Seven wrestlers qualify for the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games

June 11, 2008

AJAX, Ontario – Wrestling Canada Lutte and Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) are pleased to introduce the seven members of Canada’s wrestling team for the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games that will be held October 12-18, 2008 in Pune, India.

The athletes, ages 16-17, earned their ticket to Pune by winning their respective weight classes during a single-elimination Commonwealth Youth Games wrestling trial held in Ajax, Ont. last Sunday.

Listed below are the members of the Canadian wrestling team heading to the III Commonwealth Youth Games:

42-kg - Jon Babulall (Brampton, Ont.) Matmen Wrestling Club

46-kg - James Luu (Edmonton, Alta.) Edmonton Wrestling Club

50-kg - Steve Takahashi (London, Ont.) London Wrestling Club

54-kg - Thomas Ostapowich (Regina, Sask.) Cat Town Wrestling Club

58-kg - Duncan Moffat (Milton, Ont.) Milton Dynamo Wrestling Club

63-kg - Ilya Abelev (Ottawa, Ont.) National Capital Wrestling Club

69-kg - Jake Jagas (Kitchener, Ont.) Matmen Wrestling Club

In the 42-kg event, 17-year old Jonathan Babulall of Brampton, Ont. defeated Gunvir Khosa of Abbotsford, B.C. in the first championship bout of the day to punch his ticket to India.

Edmonton’s James Luu downed Wesley Thomson of Toronto in the 46-kg class, while London, Ont. native Steve Takahashi became the lone south-western Ontarian to make the team, capturing the 50-kg title over Luke Roberts of the Matmen Wrestling Club.

Thomas Ostapowich of Regina will represent the Cat Town Wrestling Club at the Youth Games after downing Bobby Filman of Milton, Ont. in the 54-kg category.

Duncan Moffat exacted an ounce of revenge for the town of Milton, Ont. with his victory over Richard Balfour of London, Ont. to win the 58-kg class, while Ilya Abelev of Ottawa earned a berth at the Youth Games with a win over B.C.’s Mandeep Sandhu in the 63-kg discipline.

Rounding out the team is Jake Jagas of Kitchener, Ont. who won the 69-kg weight category with a victory over Baldwinder Sahota of the Miri Piri Club in Abbotsford, B.C.

The seven members of Canada’s Commonwealth Youth Games wrestling squad will continue training throughout the summer before joining the other 56 athletes of the delegation in Toronto for a two-day orientation October 5-6 prior to departing for India.

About the Commonwealth Youth Games Canada will send a delegation of 63 athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 this October to the third Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India. The Games will serve as a training ground for many of the athletes and coaches who will compete at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India and the 2012 Olympics in London, England.

All 71 Commonwealth nations and territories have committed to compete at the 2008 Youth Games in Pune. Over 1000 athletes in nine sports will descend upon the newly renovated Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City, a 153-acre sport complex located three hours north-east of Mumbai, India for the event.

About Commonwealth Games Canada Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is a not-for-profit multi-sport organization that is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games. Since 1930, CGC has been strengthening sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a tool for development.

For further information about Team Canada, the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, 2010 Commonwealth Games or our International Development through Sport programs, please visit our web site at www.commonwealthgames.ca