Entertainment Lifestyle Local news Local sport News Sport

Graceland Casino hosts wrestling trials

Two Commonwealth Games medalists, Armando Hietbrink and Mpho Madi, will also take part in the senior trials on 28 March.

March 17, 2015

Jana Oosthuizen 1 minute read

Some of the best wrestlers can be seen in action at Graceland Casino on Saturday, 28 March.

SECUNDA – The 2015 National Wrestling Trials will take place at Graceland Casino, Hotel and Resort on Saturday, 28 March and entrance is free.

The South African Wrestling Federation is hosting the trials in partnership with Graceland.

Wrestlers countrywide will be competing to earn their place in either the cadet, junior or senior wrestling teams that will be travelling to Alexandria, Egypt at the end of May to compete in the Continental Championships.

According to the spokesman of the South African Wrestling Federation, Ms Gussie Bartlett, this is the senior wrestlers’ first step in qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“With the success of last years’ teams in Africa, especially among the cadet team (15-17-year-old wrestlers) who managed to go home with the free style team title and finished third in the Greco Roman competition and also qualifying three wrestlers to compete in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, 2015 promises to be an even bigger event with a lot more to wrestle for,” said Ms Bartlett.

Some of the junior and senior wrestlers will be competing for a place in the South African team that will take part in the All Africa Games in Brazzavill in August.

Two Commonwealth Games medalists, Armando Hietbrink and Mpho Madi, will also take part in the senior trials on 28 March.

They are currently preparing to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Madi finished a very successful 2014 during which she had won a bronze medal at the Glasgow Games and was among the top three finalists of the South African Sports Woman of the Year category at the South African Sports Awards.