FILA sets weight classes and entry limits for World Beach and Sombo Championships in Turkey

Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
08/09/2006

FILA, the international wrestling federation, has posted information on the weight class structure and entry limits for the World Beach Wrestling Championships and the World Sombo Championships in Antalya, Turkey, Nov. 1-5.

There will be two weight classes in the World Beach Wrestling Championships for both men and for women.

Men’s Beach Weight Classes at Worlds:
Below 85 kg/187.5 lbs
Above 85 kg/185.75 lbs.

Women’s Beach Weight Classes at Worlds:
Below 70 kg/154 lbs
Above 70 kg/154 lbs.

Each nation will be allowed to bring three athletes at each of these weight classes in Beach Wrestling. Therefore, the United States will be permitted a maximum of six men wrestlers and six women wrestlers for the World Beach Wrestling Championships.

The World Sombo Championships will have the same weight classes as used in international men’s and women’s wrestling. These weight classes are:

Men’s Sombo Weight Classes: 55 kg/121 lbs.; 60 kg/132 lbs.; 66 kg/145.5 lbs.; 74 kg/163 lbs.; 84 kg/185 lbs.; 96 kg/211.5 lbs.; 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Women’s Sombo Weight Classes: 48 kg/105.5 lbs.; 51 kg/112.25 lbs.; 55 kg/121 lbs.; 59 kg/130 lbs.; 63 kg/138.75 lbs.; 67 kg/147.5 lbs.; 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Each nation will be allowed to bring one athlete per weight class for Sombo Wrestling. Therefore, the United States will be permitted a maximum of seven men Sombo wrestlers and seven women Sombo wrestlers for the World Sombo Wrestling Championships.

USA Wrestling sets Beach and Sombo Trials format

With this new information in mind, USA Wrestling has decided upon the format structure for the U.S. Beach National Championships and the U.S. Sombo National Championships set for Palm Beach County, Fla., August 19-20.

At the U.S. Beach National Championships on the Senior level, there will be a special World Team competition added to determine the U.S. entries for the World Championships.

The U.S. Beach National Championships will be held with “block weights” in the Senior division, as previously announced. These weight classes will be determined after weigh-ins, and there could be a number of different weights classes based upon the entry levels.

At the conclusion of the U.S. Beach Nationals, the top three place winners in each weight class will be eligible for the World Team Trials. There will be two weight classes for the World Team Trials, the same as used at the World Championships. The men’s World Team Trials weight classes will be Below 85 kg/187.5 lbs and Above 85 kg/185.75 lbs. The women’s World Team Trials Weight Classes will be Below 70 kg/154 lbs and Above 70 kg/154 lbs.

The World Team Trials event for Beach wrestling will be a double elimination bracket, with consolation matches to determine third place.

The World Beach Championships is a self-funded tour. If any of the top three placewinners from the World Team Trials for Beach Wrestling declines the World Team position, USA Wrestling will use the results from the World Team Trials to offer the opportunity to other wrestlers based upon their placement.

Since the weight classes at the U.S. Sombo Nationals match those used at the World Championships, the champions in each division at the U.S. Sombo Nationals will earn right to represent the United States at the World Championships.

The World Sombo Championships is a self-funded tour, where the athletes will be responsible for the cost of attending the competition. If a U.S. Nationals Sombo champion declines the World Team position, USA Wrestling will use the results from the U.S. National Championships to offer the opportunity to other wrestlers based upon their placement.