With United World Wrestling (UWW) likely to cancel its November calendar, doubts over world championship loom large. UWW was scheduled to conduct four international events next month. However, due to the second wave of covid-19 in Europe, the events are most likely to get cancelled next month. “No UWW events will happen as the situation is getting worse in Europe,” an official close to the development told WrestlingTV. It is posed a pressing questions over fate senior worlds which is scheduled to be held from December 12 to 20 in Belgrade, Serbia.
Europe became the second region after Latin America to surpass 250,000 deaths on Saturday, according to a Reuters tally, with record numbers of daily covid-19 infections reported in the past two weeks.
Moreover, it has reported 200,000 daily infections for the first time on Thursday. As per Reuters tally, Europe accounts for nearly 19% of global deaths and 25% of global cases.
UWW has four competitions planned for November this year. The first one was the Poland Open from November 4 to 8. Croatia’s Grand Prix Zagreb Open and Russia’s Grand Prix Moscow were scheduled from 7 to 8 next month. The last international competition to be conducted in November was in Šiauliai, Lithuania.
The unprecedented development has also played spoilsport on India’s Tokyo Olympic-bound wrestlers Ravi Dahiya (57kg), and Deepak Punia (86kg). The duo had planned to take part in the Poland Open to test their skills ahead of the senior worlds. However, with rise in cases, it is unlikely to happen. “No Poland Open this year,” the official said.
When asked about the future of world championship, the official said it is difficult to comment on it for now. “We don’t know yet. For now it is difficult to say anything”.
UWW’s executive committee will meet on November 6 to assess the situation and take a final call on the fate of the world championship.
USA pulls out of world championship
Earlier, USA Wrestling had announced that it will not send a team to compete at the 2020 Senior World Wrestling Championships. USA Wrestling’s Executive Committee, which acts on behalf of the Board of Directors between Board meetings, in an October 20 meeting, unanimously approved a proposal not to participate in the Senior World Championships due to health and safety issues caused by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
