19. 11. 2014
Košice, Corsier-sur-Vevey – SUI (November 19, 2014) The International Wrestling Federation (UWW) has adopted another important measure to better follow our sport. After the changes made last year, the members of the UWW executive committee met last week in Moscow to approve a new age category, U-23. This decision should help keep the sport of wrestling under the five rings and simplify the transition from the junior category (up to 20 years) to the senior category. With this decision, the UWW has joined other international sports federations that have already adopted this decision long ago, such as judokas or canoeists.
The UWW Executive Committee agreed that CELA – the European Wrestling Federation will add a continental championship in the U-23 category in 2015. The European Championships in the newly elected age category will be held from March 23-29, 2015 in Warsaw (POL). This championship will be included in the official UWW calendar.
Competitiveness on the European continent requires us to help wrestlers who have matured from the junior category. The current UWW president, Nenad Lalovič, commented on these changes. This tournament will give many wrestlers the opportunity to compete as part of their preparation for the senior category.
We believe that this step will help the progress of wrestling and at the same time our young wrestlers to a simpler transition to the senior category, which as we know is the most complex step in their career.