Wrestling gets a financial boost

The Barbados Wrestling Association (BWA) has received funding from the Barbados Olympic Association through its capital grant program that is geared towards assisting national federations.

President of BWA Rollins Alleyne has welcomed the BDS$9, 000 received from the BOA’s capital grant and said it will go towards the purchasing of three mats. Also, some of the money will be pumped into BWA’s grassroots youth development program geared towards different age groups.

“The good thing about the mats is that they can be easily transported. We are really youth-driven. Local clubs such as Bajan Green Monkeys and Payne’s Wrestling Club are all expected to benefit from the usage of these mats,” Alleyne said.

BWA already has a packed calendar for 2021 and on the agenda is to develop the national squad.

“We plan to work on our national development squad. We would also like to get some programs going in the schools. One of the things people say is that children in school are always fighting.

“So, why not put them in something that has discipline and rules. Let them fight and compete in something that has a structure. They may then realise this is something they actually like and can actually excel at and even go as far as the Olympics,” Alleyne explained.

Barbadian wrestlers have a series of upcoming events. The Pan American Senior Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from May 27 to 30. Pan American Cadets and Junior Championships from June 9 – 13, 2021 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This particular junior event is a Qualifier for the Pan Am Youth Games in Cali, Colombia. The Pan American U15 Championships is scheduled for Mexico in October (date to be announced). The Commonwealth Wrestling Championships for Seniors will be in South Africa from December 3rd to 5th, 2021.

Alleyne acknowledged that with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic he is expecting some events to be affected. Barbados is expected to host the Pan American Beach Wrestling on November 6th.

However, the BWA president is calling for the sport of beach wrestling to evolve more in the region.

“The whole thing about Pan American Beach Wrestling, the whole side of the Caribbean federations needs to support. Now that people are taking us seriously that we are doing something, we need to develop sports in the region. The United World Wrestling had a conference about three weeks ago. They said that they are focused on the development of beach wrestling since it is going to be in the youth Olympics and senior Olympics,” Alleyne said.

He is hoping that a lot more beach wrestling events would take place in the Caribbean. That, he explained, would give the region even greater exposure with Flow sports and other sports channels on board.

“This year would tell us how we move forward with the international bodies in terms of hosting events in the region. Or whether we just concentrate on our own development,” he added. 

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb