Bahrain wrestlers head to Guangzhou

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Two young Bahraini wrestlers have been sent to China with a coach for an Asian training camp run by United World Wrestling and the Olympic Council of Asia.

Hassan Al Balushi, who will wrestle at 51kg, and Sajood Al Arabi, who will wrestle at 57kg, are taking part in the UWW-OCA Asian Youth Training Camp and Coaches Course in Guangzhou from July 6 to 17.

They have travelled with coach Alaa Issa Al Rougani after an invitation from the Olympic Council of Asia to national Olympic committees.

Training with Asian rivals

Abdulredha Abdulhussain Haji, president of the Bahrain Wrestling Federation, said the camp would give Bahrain’s young wrestlers a chance to train with Asian rivals from a range of schools and styles.

He said their place in Guangzhou was part of the federation’s work to build wrestling in Bahrain, in line with the support given to combat sports by Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.

Mr Haji also said the move was in keeping with the work of the Bahrain Combat Sports Council, chaired by Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Vice-President of the General Sports Authority.

Coaches course

He said the camp would help the wrestlers sharpen their skills, learn from stronger Asian sides and raise their level before coming contests.

Mr Haji added that the federation was also keen to train Bahraini coaches, with Al Rougani taking part in the coaches’ course held with the camp.

He said the course would help bring newer training methods into Bahrain and thanked United World Wrestling and the Olympic Council of Asia for their support for wrestling in Asia and overseas.

The Guangzhou camp is one of the recurring schemes held by UWW and the OCA to improve the fitness and skill of young wrestlers and train coaches to world standards.