(Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) – In the first of two remaining world qualifiers, Canada’s men’s Freestyle and Greco-Roman entries are ready to take on wrestlers from around the world and qualify their weight class for Canada for this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Having already qualified two women’s weight classes (48KG, 63KG) at the Vegas World Championships in September 2015 and all the remaining women’s weight classes (53KG, 58KG, 69KG, 75KG) as well as Men’s Freestyle 125KG at the Pan Am qualifier in Frisco, Texas in March, this world qualification tournament will take place at the Buyant-Ukhaa Sports Palace April 22 – 24 2016, where Canada will fight to qualify within the remaining men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman weight classes. At the event, only the top three male in each style and weight class will qualify to compete in Rio.

“Our team has prepared for the tough competition that will come from having to qualify within a larger field in Mongolia,” said Wrestling Canada President Don Ryan. “With the strong women’s team leading the way on the road to Rio, our men’s team have been inspired and will represent with their best efforts at this highest level.”

Canadian entries in Mongolia include two-time Olympian Haislan Garcia (65KG) of Vancouver, BC, 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion Arjun Gill (97KG) of Vancouver, BC and at 86KG 2014 Commonwealth Games Champion Tamerlan Tagziev (Toronto, ON). Complete Canadian entries include:

GR 59KG – Steven Takahashi (London, ON)
FS 57KG – Darthe Capellan (Burnaby, BC)
FS 65KG – Haislan Garcia (Vancouver, BC)
FS 74KG – Cleopas Ncube (Montreal, QC)
FS 86KG – Tamerlan Tagziev (Toronto, ON)
FS 97KG – Arjun Gill (Vancouver, QC)

Following the Mongolian qualification event, the only remaining qualifier will take place May 6–8, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey where the last two qualifications in each style and weight class can qualify for Rio.

Canadian weight classes already qualified for Rio:

FW 48KG – Jasmine Mian (Barrie, ON)
FW 53 kg – Jillian Gallays (Saskatoon, SK)
FW 58 kg – Michelle Fazzari (St. Catharines, ON)
FW 63KG – Danielle Lappage (Olds, AB)
FW 69 kg – Dorothy Yeats (Montreal, QC)
FW 75 kg – Erica Wiebe (Stittsville, ON)
FS 125 kg – Korey Jarvis (Guelph, ON)

Complete Event Schedule

Friday April 22, 2016
09:00-15:00 – Qualification rounds and repechage (GR – 59-66-75-85-98-130kg)
17:30 – Opening Ceremony
18:00-20:00 – Finals (GR – 59-66-75-85-98-130kg) & Award ceremonies

Saturday April 23, 2016
09:00-15:00 – Qualification rounds and repechage (FW – 48-53-58-63-69-75kg)
18:00-20:00 – Finals (FW – 48-53-58-63-69-75kg) & Award ceremonies

Sunday April 24, 2016
09:00-15:00 – Qualification rounds and repechage (FS – 57-65-74-86-97-125kg)=
18:00-20:00 Finals (FS – 57-65-74-86-97-125kg) & Award ceremonies

For more information, visit https://unitedworldwrestling.org/