9th World University Wrestling Championship
Torino, Italy - October 26th to 30th, 2010
Since wrestling has been brought back to the programme, its popularity keeps rising with record-breaking participation.
There is no need to describe Torino, whose sports history is intimately related to that of FISU. Here the first Universiade took place and Torino has also stood out in the past with the organization of many World University Championships like golf in 2006, or cross country in 2004. So the noble martial art of wrestling stopped over in Italy in 2010 for the 8th edition of the WUC. We don’t need to boast of the Italian skills in organizing international events and clearly the number of men and women wrestlers who came to the championship in Torino found all the facilities they needed for the competition. A good thing that is too – since wrestling came back to the programme 1996, it has become increasingly popular, even more so because it opened to women in 2002.
So once again, Torino was no exception – statistics for wrestling were flattering: with 32 countries enrolled, the record made in 2006 in Ulaanbaatar was bested. In all 201 male and 72 female wrestlers competed in the tournament!
If one were to remember one single characteristic of this competition, it would no doubt be the spirit of fair play found here. Not a single complaint, and a truly cordial atmosphere – what more could be asked for a championship in a martial art? That's what university sports are about.
The International Wrestling Federation (FILA) was particularly well represented by the President, Vice-President and Secretary-General, showing the importance FILA gives to the event. Mr. Raphael Martinetti, the Presdient, in fact signed an agreement some time ago that bends the federation to FISU. This kind of agreement is very helpful to both parties who can consequently better plan their joint efforts and, fundamentally, can better promote university wrestling all over the world. As is often the case for the successful sports at our WUC, Mr. Raphael Martinetti would like to see wrestling integrated as a mandatory sport in the Summer Universiades. Everyone of course remembers the great wrestling matches at Izmir when it was offered as an optional discipline. But it is not on the agenda at this time.
Ibrahim Cicioglu, the FISU technical delegate for wrestling had every reason to be pleased, and explained why on the edge of the mat: "The organization here in Torino was indeed really excellent and we have the organizing committee to thank for that. The level of the participants was also top quality, and that too is a pleasure.
FRA vs. USA Here we had many wrestlers who brought home medals in FILA's Continental and World Championships. For example, Elena Pirozhkova (USA), World Champion for 2010 in Moscow, and Daniel Ligeti (HUN), who won bronze at the FILA World Championships in 2010, or again Riza Kayaalp (TUR), 3 times junior world champion and gold medal winner at the 2010 European Championships, were all present. And we can add another fifteen junior medal winners – at lot of great athletes for a very interesting tournament."
In the men's free-style event, Russia took the most medals in Torino with 2 gold and 3 bronze, followed by Ukraine: 3 silver and 1 bronze, Iran: 1 gold and 3 bronze, and finally Japan that won gold twice.
In the Greco-Roman style, Iran took the lion's share with 7 medals: 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze. Turkey did well with 6: 1 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze.
Finally, for the women, Ukraine led Canada and Japan at the head of the ranks for free-style.
Rendez-vous in 2012 in Kuortane, Finland for the 9th edition of the World University Wrestling Championships.
Organizing Committee
CUS Torino
Via Paolo Braccini 1
10141 Torino
ITALY
tel: +39-011-388.307 / +39-011-380.87.36
fax: +39-011-382.73.94
e-mail: silviabini@custorino.it
contact: Silvia Bini
FISU Technical Chair
RESULTS
Free Style
