Southeast Asian Championships & Oceania Invitational 

The 2024 Southeast Asian Championship & Oceania Invitational, held from September 25-29 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was a landmark event for our region. For the first time in over nine years, Oceania teams were included, marking a major step forward in fostering collaboration and growth between Southeast Asia and Oceania. Overall, thirteen countries participated, with 284 athletes competing across Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Women’s Wrestling in the U15, U17, and senior divisions.

The event was a tremendous success, providing invaluable international exposure for our athletes. Oceania teams expressed great enthusiasm and are eager to return next year. Several nations have already committed to increased participation, and we anticipate even greater Oceania representation moving forward.

Looking ahead, we hope for this event to continue, and our goal is to further boost participation, particularly in the U15 and U17 age groups, while continuing to broaden Oceania’s presence. This event has laid a solid foundation for regional development and has the potential to become a cornerstone for wrestling in both Southeast Asia and Oceania.

A huge congratulations to all who competed and medalled, including teams from Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, and American Samoa. A special thank you also goes to Thailand for hosting such a fantastic event!

South-East Asia & Oceania Education Week

The South-East Asia & Oceania Education Week in Perth was another major success. Representatives from seven Oceania countries—Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Tahiti, and the Marshall Islands—along with one participant from Singapore, gathered to enhance their wrestling knowledge and skills. The event featured several key educational courses:

• Level 3 Coaching Course, led by UWW Educator and USA Wrestling Coach Marty Huack, offering advanced coaching methodologies.
• Level 2 Referee Course, instructed by UWW 1S Referee Stefan Rudevics, aimed at sharpening refereeing expertise.
• IT Course, taught by UWW IT Specialist Youssef Bouaziz, equipping participants with essential technical skills for managing wrestling’s growing digital needs.

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting significant self-development and growth. This event not only deepened technical knowledge but also reinforced a sense of unity and shared purpose among the wrestling communities of Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Article added: Thursday 24 October 2024