Martin Erasmus gears up for Commonwealth Champs
The South African Wrestling Federation’s (SAWF) 2017 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships will take place from December 14 to 17 at Carnival City's Big Top Arena.
The international countries invited to participate are from all Commonwealth nations and include international wrestling giants such as Canada, Great Britain, India, Pakistan, Wales, Australia, New Zealand and Nigeria.
Other international federations have indicated their interest as this event is used by most international federations and national sport regulating bodies to qualify their participants for the quadrennial 2018 Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Gold Coast, Australia, in April next year.
Disciplines will include men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling, where all participants are in the senior age group.
Where the Commonwealth Games Wrestling events do not host men’s Greco-Roman Wrestling as a discipline, the discipline will be hosted at the South African Commonwealth Wrestling Championships to provide the opportunity for these participants.
The South African team was selected by the SAWF Coaches Council after the national trials which were hosted on October 21 at the Northern Gauteng Competition Hall in Menlo Park.
The senior team has already been on an international training camp at the annual Grand Prix of Spain, held annually in Madrid, Spain in July.
Local wrestlers faired exceptionally well with Brakpan’s Martin Erasmus placing second in his division, losing on points to 2016 Rio Olympic Champion, Kyle Snyder.
He is the only South African who has ever medalled at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Erasmus is the best prospect for a South African gold medal in the 92kg to 97kg division.
The Brenthurst resident has been wrestling at Brakpan Wrestling Club since the age of three years old and has been a South African champion in every age group.
He placed second in his first ever international tournament at the African Championships.
His father Rassie Erasmus, head coach at Brakpan Wrestling Club, said he is busy getting his son ready for the Commonwealth Championships and expects him to get gold, qualify for the Commonwealth Games and eventually book a spot in the Olympic Games team in Tokyo.
“We have been training for two hours in the mornings and two hours in the evenings to get Martin ready,” said his father.
“He trains extremely hard and is an intelligent wrestler.”
Asked why wrestling is a good sport to be involved in, the coach said: “All mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters wrestle.
“They all start wrestling from a young age.
“Even rugby players wrestle, it makes them tough.”
• Meanwhile, the SAWF is on the prowl for student volunteers for the 2017 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships at Carnival City.
Jeanne-Marie Coetser, vice-president of the SAWF, said: “By providing the opportunity to volunteer, students get an opportunity to build their portfolios and CVs.
“They are also exposed to the Commonwealth Games Federation and a new sport, wrestling, the oldest of the Olympic sports.
“Volunteers are required for various roles and they will be provided with lunch packs and a special sublimated T-shirt.
“As the event is on the East Rand it is preferable to find volunteers who stay close to the venue.
“The event will be broadcasted by SuperSport and also live streamed on the internet.
“There are 40 positions that require volunteers.”
If you are a student and would like to volunteer email to jinxc@live.co.za
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