Wrestling Canada Lutte Announces Team for Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Carol Huynh
OTTAWA, July 29, 2010 – Wrestling Canada Lutte and Commonwealth Games Canada today confirmed the athletes and coaches named to Team Canada for the XIXth Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India this October.
Athletes named to the team include Carol Huynh (Hazelton, BC) who will be competing in the women’s freestyle event at 48 kg. The 2008 Olympic Games, 2007 Pan American Games and 2005 World University Games champion and three-time World medalist will be competing in her first Commonwealth Games.
Leading the men’s team will be two-time national champion, Pan American gold medalist and 2006 World University Championships bronze medalist Arjan Bhullar (Richmond, BC) at 120 kg. With a ninth place finish at the 2009 senior World Championships under National Team Coach Dave McKay, Bhullar will be returning to his family’s homeland – where his father competed for prize money on the wrestling circuit – for the first time since 1997. Bhullar will be joined in Delhi by a strong men’s team looking to make its mark at the international event.
Two-time Olympic medalist Tonya Verbeek (Beamsville, ON), will be competing in the 59 kg category as a veteran team member. Verbeek won a silver medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and a bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at 55 kg. Joining Verbeek will be two-time (2008 and 2009) world champion Martine Dugrenier (Laval, QC) at 67 kg. Rounding out the strong medal contenders for the women is 2009 world bronze medalist Justine Bouchard (Wetaskiwin, AB) at 63 kg, who trains at Calgary’s Dinos Wrestling Club.
Athletes and coaches named by Wrestling Canada Lutte to Team Canada for the 2010 Commonwealth Games were selected at the 2010 Senior National Championships held March 26-28 in Fredericton, NB. National champions were given first rights to the event with National Championship rankings used to determine potential candidates if the champion was unable to attend. Following the March championships, alternate team spot wrestle-offs took place at the Canada Cup of International Wrestling on July 3 in Guelph, ON, with provisions for injuries then impacting on the final team nominations and selection.
“Recently at the Canada Cup tournament hosted at the University of Guelph, I was thrilled to see such a strong pool of athletes and witness the exciting wrestle-offs for the final team positions,” says Team Canada Chef de Mission, Martha Deacon. “With performance a priority for the team going to Delhi, I know these athletes will give their all and be proud Canadian ambassadors in their drive for medal-worthy performances.”
Supporting the team will be an accomplished list of coaches and therapists who collectively have strong multi-sport games experience.
“The team, including athletes, coaches and support staff, represents the best in Canadian wrestling,” says Wrestling Canada Lutte Executive Director, Tamara Medwidsky. “We go into the Commonwealth Games with high expectations in terms of performance and anticipate that the experience gained in Delhi will be invaluable leading towards the preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games.”
The full 2010 Commonwealth Games team for wrestling includes:
| First Name | Last Name | Hometown | Weight | Event |
| John | Pineda | Vancouver, BC | 55 kg | Freestyle Men |
| James | Mancini | Pierrefonds, QC | 60 kg | Freestyle Men |
| Chris | Prickett | Guelph, ON | 66 kg | Freestyle Men |
| Evan | MacDonald | St. Catharines, ON | 74 kg | Freestyle Men |
| Danny | Brown | Kitchener, ON | 84 kg | Freestyle Men |
| Khetag | Pliev | Toronto, ON | 96 kg | Freestyle Men |
| Arjan | Bhullar | Richmond, BC | 120 kg | Freestyle Men |
| Carol | Huynh | Hazelton, BC | 48 kg | Freestyle Women |
| Jessica | MacDonald | Windsor, ON | 51 kg | Freestyle Women |
| Jillian | Gallays | Saskatoon, SK | 55 kg | Freestyle Women |
| Tonya | Verbeek | Beamsville, ON | 59 kg | Freestyle Women |
| Justine | Bouchard | Wetaskiwin, AB | 63 kg | Freestyle Women |
| Martine | Dugrenier | Laval, QC | 67 kg | Freestyle Women |
| Ohenewa | Akuffo | Brampton, ON | 72 kg | Freestyle Women |
| Promise | Mwenga | Moncton, NB | 55 kg | Greco-Roman |
| Jack | Bond | Sherwood Park, AB | 66 kg | Greco-Roman |
| Eric | Feunekes | Fredericton, NB | 96 kg | Greco-Roman |
| First Name | Last Name | Hometown | Role | Event |
| John | Dawson | Sarnia, ON | Team Leader | |
| Dave | McKay | Port Moody, BC | Coach | Freestyle Men |
| Leigh | Vierling | Calgary, AB | Coach | Freestyle Women |
| Marty | Calder | St. Catharines, ON | Coach | Freestyle Women |
| Don | Ryan | Fredericton, NB | Coach | Greco-Roman |
| Rick | Tkach | Burnaby, BC | Massage Therapy | |
| Surinder | Budwal | Kitchener, ON | Athletic Therapy |
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The wrestling events at the XIXth Commonwealth Games in Delhi will feature 14 weight categories (seven freestyle and seven Greco Roman) for men and seven freestyle weight categories for women at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex from October 5-10.
Interviews with individual athletes and coaches leading up to the Commonwealth Games can be arranged by contacting Wrestling Canada Lutte Executive Director, Tamara Medwidsky, at (613) 748-5686 or tamara@wrestling.ca. Interviews during the games can be arranged via the Team Canada Media Attaché on-site at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
The Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games will be the world’s largest multi-sport competition this year, drawing more than 4,000 athletes from 71 nations and territories. For more information on Team Canada, visit www.commonwealthgames.ca.
About Wrestling Canada Lutte
Wrestling Canada Lutte is the national sport governing body for Olympic style wrestling in Canada. The association liaises with the provincial sport governing bodies, its major training centers, leads implementation of a long term athlete development model, and is responsible for the selection and preparation of all of Canada’s teams which compete in the World Championships and major multi-sport Games, including the Olympic Games.
About Commonwealth Games Canada
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of Commonwealth Games Canada is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth, by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool.
Derek Johnston
Commonwealth Games Canada Communications
(613) 837-3377
derek@face-value.ca
Tamara Medwidsky
Wrestling Canada Lutte
(613) 748-5686
tamara@wrestling.ca
