UWW brought together wrestlers, coaches and referees from across Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean for the third edition of the REDT, held in Mauritius from October 8 to 18.
MAURITIUS (November 1) -- United World Wrestling, in partnership with Olympic Solidarity, the Mauritius Olympic Committee (MOC), the Mauritius Wrestling Federation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, brought together wrestlers, coaches and referees from across Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean for the third edition of the Regional Education Development Tournament (REDT), held in Mauritius from October 8 to 18.
The programme combined coach education, referee training, practical wrestling sessions and international competitions, reinforcing UWW’s commitment to developing technical expertise and creating sustainable pathways for athletes and sports professionals across the region.
The opening ceremony took place on October 10 at the Glen Park Multi Sports Complex, in the presence of UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY, UWW Development Officer Vincent AKA, UWW Educator Danga CHRISTIAN, Mauritius Olympic Committee President Richard PAPIE, Mauritius Wrestling Federation President Joel ANTOINETTE and federation representatives.
The educational programme placed a strong emphasis on improving coaching knowledge, technical preparation and officiating standards. Coaches participated in Level 3 training, with sessions covering technical and tactical development, offensive techniques, match situations, controlled bouts and competition-specific preparation. The programme also included planning activities designed to help coaches apply the knowledge acquired in their own national contexts.
The referee education component focused on developing officiating skills and strengthening understanding of competition procedures. Led by UWW Gold Referee Charles Villet, the level 2 Referee Course concluded with a certification session held in connection with the beach wrestling tournament at Flic en Flac.
UWW experts Aka and Danga led the coaching education activities, supporting participants through theoretical instruction and practical training. The combination of education and competition allowed athletes to test their abilities while giving coaches and referees opportunities to exchange experiences and apply their learning in a competitive environment.
The third edition of REDT welcomed participants from Mauritius and Rodrigues, Réunion Island, Madagascar, Comoros, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia and Venezuela. The gathering provided an opportunity to strengthen sporting relationships, share knowledge and encourage cooperation among wrestling federations with different levels of experience and development.
The programme also highlighted the importance of preparing the region for major upcoming sporting events, including the 2027 Indian Ocean Islands Games in Comoros, the 2027 African Championships and the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games legacy. In the longer term, these development efforts contribute to building the technical foundations needed for athletes to progress towards the highest levels of international wrestling and the Olympic qualification pathway for Los Angeles 2028.
As UWW Expert Frederic RUBIO noted, educational initiatives offer young wrestlers and coaches opportunities to develop the knowledge and experience needed to reach world-class standards. He emphasized the importance of national federations consolidating and sharing the skills acquired through these programmes to improve performance at future international events.
The educational activities culminated in two regional competitions. The Freestyle tournament took place on October 17 at the Glen Park Multi Sports Complex, followed by the Beach Wrestling tournament on October 18 at Flic en Flac Public Beach. These events gave participants valuable competition experience and allowed referees to apply their knowledge in a practical setting.
Beyond the sporting programme, the event celebrated the cultural diversity of the participating delegations. A cultural performance by the Richardo-Sega group added a distinctive local dimension to the Beach Wrestling tournament, bringing participants together in a spirit of friendship, unity and mutual respect.
Antoinette thanked UWW, Olympic Solidarity, the Mauritius Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their support, while welcoming the participating federations for their commitment to the regional initiative. He highlighted the value of the exchange and the strong spirit of cooperation demonstrated throughout the programme.
Venezuelan coach Yelmith also expressed gratitude for the hospitality, organization and learning opportunities offered during the camp, describing the experience as a valuable source of knowledge, shared experiences and sporting friendship.
