The Saudi Arabian Wrestling Federation (SAWF) is a sports federation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It oversees wrestling and manages its local and international championships. It is headquartered in the capital, Riyadh.
Establishment of SAWF
SAWF was founded in 1980. Initially, it was part of the Saudi Arabian Athletics Federation (SAAF). Later on, boxing and wrestling were separated to form the Saudi Arabian Boxing and Wrestling Federation. Then, on July 4, 2013, both sports were further separated into two independent federations: the Saudi Arabian Boxing Federation and the Saudi Arabian Wrestling Federation.
Tasks of SAWF
SAWF carries out several key tasks, mainly overseeing the organization and management of the sport's affairs throughout the Kingdom. It holds the exclusive right to represent the Kingdom in conferences, meetings, sessions, competitions, and matches held at the Arab, continental, or global levels, whether inside or outside the Kingdom. Additionally, it supervises its administrative, technical, and financial affairs and issues regulations and instructions to ensure the achievement and success of its objectives.
Oversight and registered clubs with SAWF
SAWF oversees several local wrestling championships, including the Kingdom Championship for clubs, various categories of training centers for youth and juniors, and the Kingdom Cup for clubs and training centers. The federation has thirty-two registered clubs and four training centers.
SAWF is a sports authority with a legal personality. Its budget is composed of funds provided by the state as support, revenues generated from local and international championships, donations and grants, as well as annual membership fees from its members. The federation's logo is a registered trademark with the official entities in the Kingdom, and it is a member of the Arab Wrestling Federation (AWF).
Referees and coaches within SAWF
SAWF has registered three referees, one at the international first-division level and two at the local first-division level. Additionally, the federation has registered ten coaches who are affiliated with various clubs.
Champtionships achieved by SAWF
In 2022, the Saudi wrestler Nabil Hawsawi won the gold medal in the Veterans World Championships in the Greco-Roman style, competing in the 100 kg weight class, after defeating his Norwegian opponent with a score of four to three. Hawsawi reached the final by winning his quarter-final match against his American opponent with a technical superiority score of eight-zero. He also secured a similar result in the semi-final round against his Hungarian opponent.
In 2019, the national Saudi Under-17, Under-20, and Under-23 teams achieved second place in the overall standings at the Spain International Wrestling Tournament in both the Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling disciplines. They won a total of fourteen medals, consisting of eight gold, four silver, and two bronze medals across both Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling categories.
Hosting WWE competitions in the Kingdom
In 2018, the Kingdom signed an agreement with WWE for the exclusive hosting of wrestling competitions for a duration of ten years. The agreement included the organization of various wrestling events featuring several world-renowned and celebrity wrestlers. The agreement encompassed the hosting of multiple competitions, such as the Royal Rumble, Tag Team, Raw Title, Ladder Match, and other events that took place in the Kingdom for the first time in the history of the sport.
Related quizzes
