Comparative analysis of competitive performance indicators at world championships among wrestlers of different age groups

Purpose: to conduct a comparative analysis of the indicators of competitive activity at the world championships among wrestlers of different age groups. Material and methods. The analysis of protocols and video recordings of the world championships (WC) among adults in Belgrade (Serbia) and U-23 in Tirana (Albania) was conducted. A total of 614 matchеs were analyzed: at the U-23 World Championship (n=243) and at the World Championship among adults (n=371). The initial data of the athletes' performances were taken from the website of the international wrestling federation UWW. The analysis of competitive activity was carried out using the internet platform (Performance Data Analysis - PDA). Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using licensed Excel spreadsheet packages. For categorical data, the results were expressed in absolute numbers (number of times) and percentages (%). To compare the indicators of the wrestlers' competitive activity, the Student's t-test was used, the extraction was considered reliable at (p<0,05). Results: analysis of Greco-Roman style wrestlers' matchеs allowed to establish effective technical and tactical actions (TTА), which were evaluated by judges at the 2023 World Championships among adults and U-23. In all the studied championships, the highest number of points was received for the same TTА: in the ground – rollovers and throws with the back and reverse belt; in the standing position – passivity. No significant differences (p>0,05) are observed in all effective TTАs performed by wrestlers at the 2023 World Championships among adults and U-23. It was established that the number of points scored is higher in the standing position than in the ground position and the number of technical points is higher than non-technical at both world championships. It is worth noting that the percentage of technical points is higher at the U-23 World Championships (71,83 %) than at the Adult World Championships (66,98 %), but this difference is not significant (p>0,05). It was determined that the largest number of points scored falls on the second minute of the match, and the smallest – on the sixth minute of the match, both at the U-23 World Championships and the Adult World Championships. It is worth noting that older wrestlers have higher performance in the fourth and fifth minutes of the match, but this difference is not significant (p>0,05). The average number of points scored per match is significantly higher (p<0,05) for wrestlers at the U-23 World Championships. This indicator significantly increases the spectacle of Greco-Roman wrestling. Another important indicator that determines the spectacle of the match is the success index. It is also the largest at the U-23 World Championships and this difference is significantly better (p<0,05).Conclusions. The conducted studies indicate some similarities and differences in the indicators of competitive activity of Greco-Roman wrestlers at the adult and U-23 world championships. Similarities: conducting simple (one-point, two-point) technical and tactical actions; a large number of matchеs that ended with a score of 1:1; many stops in the match (challenge, violation of the rules). This negatively affects the spectacle. Differences: the average number of points scored in matchеs and the success index are significantly higher (p<0.05) in wrestlers at the U-23 World Championships. It was determined that Greco-Roman wrestling requires adjustment of the competition rules.