Commonwealth Wrestling Championships

By Tim Foley

December 5-7

Johannesburg, South Africa

The 2013 Commonwealth Senior Wrestling Championships for Men and Women in Freestyle and Men's Greco-Roman are being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, December 5-7, 2013.

The Commonwealth Wrestling Championships are being held under the auspices of the Commonwealth Wrestling Association and the sanction of Commonwealth Games Federation and FILA. 

The Championships have been held on regular bi-annual basis since 1985.  This is the second time that the South African Wrestling Federation is hosting this event, the last time was in 2005 in Cape Town.

The Commonwealth Wrestling Association uses a Nordic Pool system (A and B) of competition for the Commonwealth Championships in order that each competitor gets the maximum of wrestling matches. The top three wrestlers from each pool wrestle in cross bracket to advance to the finals in each weight class.

 Commonwealth Wrestling Nations that have entered their Preliminary List of competitors are: Australia, Canada, England, India, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa and Wales.

The 2013 - Commonwealth Championships is a test event for the majority of the Commonwealth Wrestlers prior to the next years 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. 

The strong nations in wrestling in the Commonwealth are India, Canada, Nigeria, Australia. This time South Africa is having a home advantage and is expected to do well, though India is the favorite to win the team title in men’s and women’s freestyle.

The Indian Wrestling Team is defending their Team Title from 2011 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships (Melbourne) where they won the men's and women's freestyle and men's Greco-Roman.

The founder and the current Chairman of Commonwealth Wrestling Association Mr. Josip Mrkoci of Canada said, “We are glad that the South African Wrestling Federation came forth to host this event as the Scottish Wrestling Association had to withdraw from hosting it. We look forward to a good and competitive Wrestling Championships in Johannesburg.”

The Championships matches, results, photos will be available on YOUTUBE via  49NorthWrestling.

http://49northwrestling.com/2013-commonwealth-championships/