A Wolverhampton Conservative councillor has congratulated a popular wrestling club in the city on its success at a national competition.
Cllr Udey Singh, who represents the Tettenhall Regis ward, has hailed Wolverhampton Wrestling Club’s success on a national level as “a great achievement for Wolverhampton” and has urged the council to use sporting successes such as these to combat high levels of childhood obesity.
At the 2019 English Senior Open Championships, which took place on Saturday 23rd February in Salford, medal-winning wrestlers from the club included Karol Smedzic – who won Gold in the 92kg category, beating another local wrestler Hardeep Singh. Kurram Nawaz and Omiel Brown both took home bronze medals in the 61kg and 92kg categories respectively.
The wrestling club has been running for more than 50 years, and was started up by newly-arrived immigrants from India. It has been training national wrestling champions ever since, in facilities provided by the nearby Sikh temple – the Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara on the Cannock Road. The club is home to 8 national wrestling champions.
Cllr Singh, who is also Vice-Chair of Wolverhampton Council’s Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel, said: “This is fantastic news for a Wolverhampton-based sports club. To be winning medals at a national competition is a great achievement for our city, and shows that Wolverhampton is still home to national and international champions in various sporting disciplines.
“Unfortunately child obesity levels in Wolverhampton are far too high, with figures suggesting over 43% of 10-11 year olds in Wolverhampton are obese – way above the national average. So the city council should be promoting the wonderful success of our sportsmen and women, and encouraging children to get involved and perhaps become the Olympic medal winners of the future.”
Club coaches Ranjit Singh and Amarjit Singh said: “This is another great achievement for the club. We now host 8 national champions from Wolverhampton, and we would welcome any further support from the local authority and the residents of Wolverhampton.”
