Freestyle World Cup awarded to Los Angeles
Wrestling powers Iran and Russia are expected to join the United States in a loaded 10- team field for the event, scheduled for March 15-16
By Gary Abbott
The international wrestling federation FILA has awarded the 2014 Freestyle World Cup to USA Wrestling, which will host the event in Los Angeles, Calif., March 15-16. The World Cup is the annual international dual meet champi-
onships, and will feature the top 10 men’s freestyle wrestling teams in the world, based upon the team standings of the 2013 World Championships.
The local organizing committee will be structured, benefitting from the talent and membership of Beat the Streets Los Angeles, California USA Wrestling, the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, the Semnani Family Foundation and other strong Los Angeles-based sports organizations.
The venue for the competition is currently being finalized and will be announced when available.
“This is exciting because we have a tremendous fan base in our area for the international teams that will be coming here to compete, as well as for the USA team. Our fans are knowledge- able and very passionate. We are looking forward to hosting a dynamic, exciting and successful event,” said USA Wrestling leader Andy Barth who is helping lead the local organizing com- mittee. “We are excited to help bring the Freestyle World Cup back to the United States and to California,” said Duane Morgan, state chairperson of California USA Wrestling. “This is another exam- ple that USA Wrestling is the national governing body for our sport and can bring major international events here which expose California youth to Olympic-level wrestling. We are pleased the event is in our back yard and we will help as much as we can to make sure it is a success.” The 10 nations which have qualified for the World Cup, based upon team standings at the 2013 World Championships are Iran, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, United States, India, Mongolia, Armenia, Turkey and Belarus. The most recent Freestyle World Cup was held in Tehran, Iran in February 2013, with Iran winning the team title, Russia placing second and the United States placing third. The World Cup field will be split into two pools of five nations, with each team competing against the other four teams in its pool.
The winning teams of each pool will compete for first place; second place in each pool will compete for third place; third place in each pool will compete for fifth place; fourth place in each pool will compete for seventh place and fifth place in each pool will compete for ninth place.
USA Wrestler 5
The Freestyle World Cup was developed in the United States, which has hosted the event 26 times since its inception. The most recent time that the United States hosted the event was in 2003 in Boise, Idaho.
The U.S. cities which have hosted the World Cup include
Toledo, Ohio (17 times); Chattanooga, Tenn. (twice); Spokane, Wash. (twice); Stillwater, Okla. (twice); Baltimore, Md.; Fairfax, Va. and Boise, Idaho.
This will be the second major international wrestling event held in Los Angeles within a year. United 4 Wrestling, which fea- tured the United States, Russia and Canada competing in men’s and women’s freestyle wrestling, was hosted at the LA Sports Arena on May 19, 2013.
This successful event was an important competition in helping wrestling display its worldwide appeal and retain its status as an Olympic sport. “USA Wrestling is pleased to host the Freestyle World Cup again, and look forward to a fantastic competition in Los Angeles. It is our intention to provide an exciting event presen- tation which will help showcase the best freestyle wrestling teams in the world. We invite all wrestling fans to join us at the Freestyle World Cup this year,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44