The next generation of Australian wrestling will be given the chance to show the world that Australia can match it with the best when they take to the mat at the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival set to take place around Sydney in January.
With Australia looking to make a name for itself in a sport that has been historically dominated by nations from Asia and Eastern Europe, the 10-strong team will be the take the first steps in improving the nation’s prospects as it builds towards the 2016 Games.
The young athletes will have a chance to test themselves against competitors that will make the journey from the likes of Chinese Taipei, Brazil and New Zealand.
Oceania Championships runner up, Tom Cicchini will compete in the 63kg division and is keen to be one of the leading lights in the green and gold at the Festival in a sport he took up just over two years ago.
"I am extremely excited to be named as part of the team to compete for Australia," said Cicchini.
"It will definitely be a challenge to take on some of the best youngsters in the world but something I’m looking forward to. It will be a great experience to be involved in an Olympic event and see what level the international competitors are at."
With Farzad Tarash being the sole Australian wrestler at the London 2012 Games, the team of ten is the generation next for the sport in Australia.
"Everyone in the team really deserves to be there and I believe we will go well. I think the Festival will be a great stepping stone towards going on to higher competition such as the Olympic Games.
"Having wrestling in the Festival will hopefully help to promote the sport and get more people involved so we can have more of a presence."
An intriguing sidenote to the competition will be the friendly rivalry that Cicchini and his training partner and Australian teammate Liam Neyland hold.
Cicchini won both national titles in 2011 but finished runner up to Neyland in both events this year after battling with injury.
"We’ve always got along great as friends but as soon as we hit the mat it’s on. It will be a good experience having him on my team as opposed to being a rival at the Festival."
The 2013 AYOF will take place in Sydney from 16 – 20 January with the wrestling competition taking place on the final day of competition. There will be 17 sports and 1700 athletes from 30 countries.
The Australian wrestling team for the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival:
Australian Team
Gender
Age
Division
Aliena Coleman
Female
14
65kg
Arminder Sandhu
Male
16
100kg
Charles Pratt
Male
14
85kg
Christina Damirdjian
Female
15
56kg
Cody Witham
Male
16
76kg
Emre Tanrikulu
Male
15
54kg
Hamish Adam
Male
15
54kg
Liam Neyland
Male
16
63kg
Sean O’Dea
Male
16
85kg
Thomas Cicchini
Male
16
63kg
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