• Sport

Promising step for Namibian wrestling

• 4 Weeks Ago - 2024-10-24 00:00:00

Anke Erasmus, secretary-general of the Namibian Wrestling Federation (NWF), is currently in Albania’s capital Tirana, attending the prestigious United World Wrestling (UWW) U23 World Championships, which runs from 21 to 27 October.
Following this, the Senior World Championship will be held at the same venue from 28 to 31 October, providing an extended platform for global wrestling excellence.
In addition to her presence at the championships, Erasmus participated in an Event Organization Workshop from 17 to 21 October. Hosted by UWW, the workshop brought together representatives from nine countries to equip national wrestling federations with the necessary tools and skills to host future national and international events.

‘A bright future’
Reflecting on her experience in Albania, Erasmus expressed her enthusiasm for the future of wrestling in Namibia.
“I am excited about the future of this amazing sport,” she said. “I look forward to putting into practice all the new knowledge and experience I’ve gained to elevate wrestling in Namibia to the highest level of excellence.”
The Namibian Wrestling Federation under its president Colin Steytler is grateful for the opportunity, extending thanks to UWW, UWW Africa, and the Namibian National Olympic Committee (NNOC) for making Erasmus' participation possible. With the insights gained from the workshop, Erasmus is determined to foster further growth and development in the sport.

Workshop insights and impact
The workshop, attended by among others Japan, China, Italy and Namibia – the only African country present – focused on enhancing the efficiency and standards for organizing UWW events.
Erasmus highlighted the importance of planning, coordinating and assigning the right people to key positions during an event – skills that will be crucial as Namibia looks to host more high-profile competitions.
UWW emphasized the workshop’s goal of raising event quality by enhancing logistics, minimizing conflicts, and fostering a global wrestling community built on shared knowledge and experiences. With 10 participants, the workshop was a platform for exchanging best practices and building networks that will benefit Namibian wrestling.

National champs this weekend
On Saturday 26 October, the NWF will host its national championship at the Sports Plaza at Windhoek Showgrounds.
Wrestlers from six clubs representing the Khomas, ||Kharas, Otjozondjupa and Erongo regions have been training hard for what promises to be an exciting display of talent. The event will kick off with the youngest categories (from under-6) at 08:30, followed by the senior group at 10:30.
Entry is free, and the public is encouraged to attend, support the athletes and investigate this great sport.
The national championship marks the final wrestling event on Namibia’s calendar. Afterward, the NWF will hold its annual general meeting and 2024 Awards Ceremony.

Looking ahead to 2025
Erasmus is already looking excitedly ahead to the 2025 season, which will include a regional training camp in South Africa and the African championship held in Morocco.
Namibia's performance this year yielded two silver and four bronze medals, and the federation is aiming to build on that success in 2025, with hopes of adding more medals – especially gold.
In the longer term, Erasmus envisions Namibian wrestlers competing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as well as the next Olympic Youth Games.
Although wrestling was recently dropped from the list of sports hosted at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, British Wrestling and UWW have appealed to reinstate it as one of the original disciplines that shaped the Games' history.

Call for support
Erasmus extends an invitation to all wrestling fans, stakeholders, and potential sponsors to attend the national championships on Saturday.
“We would like to invite the public, current stakeholders and investors to come and support Namibian talent," she said. With the youth and senior categories competing, the event will not only showcase the nation’s top talent, but also serve as a platform for the continued growth of wrestling in Namibia.
With the dedication of individuals like Anke Erasmus and the support of UWW and local organizations, Namibian wrestling is poised for a future full of promise.