Comparative analysis of competitive performance indicators of freestyle wrestlers at the european and asian championships

Abstract

Purpose: to conduct a comparative analysis of competitive performance indicators of freestyle wrestlers at the European and Asian Championships. Material and Methods. A total of 335 bouts from the 2025 European Championship (n=178) and Asian Championship (n=157) in senior freestyle wrestling were analyzed. Competitive activity was examined using the Internet platform Performance Data Analysis. Results. The comparative analysis showed that scoring actions in the standing position dominated in both groups, with a slightly higher proportion among Asian wrestlers (71.89 % vs. 68.63 %). The analysis of standing techniques indicated that single leg attacks remained the basic offensive action, especially among European wrestlers. A higher proportion of takedowns and step outs among Asian wrestlers reflected a different tactical model. The dominance of gut wrenches in parterre for both groups confirmed their key role in scoring. The highest scoring activity was observed during the 2nd–3rd minutes of the bout in both groups. Lower scoring in the first minute among European wrestlers indicated a more cautious start, whereas Asian athletes demonstrated higher activity from the very beginning. The absence of significant differences in the average points per bout and per minute indicated a generally similar level of performance between wrestlers from the two continents. Higher values of the success index in standing and the overall index among Asian wrestlers indicated more effective execution of offensive actions. Nearly identical success indices in parterre suggested that this component was relatively uniform at the international level. The advantage of Asian wrestlers in both technical and non-technical indices reflected a more comprehensive competitive performance that included effective use of offensive techniques. Conclusions. The comparative analysis of freestyle wrestlers’ competitive activity showed that standing-position scoring dominated in both groups, with slightly higher values among athletes at the Asian Championship. Differences were identified in the structure of technical and tactical actions: European wrestlers more often used single leg attacks, whereas Asian wrestlers relied more on takedowns and step outs. At the same time, the overall scoring level did not differ significantly (p>0.05), although the success index was higher among wrestlers at the Asian Championship (p<0.05). The obtained data confirm both similarities and differences in the competitive activity of wrestlers from different continental schools and can serve as a basis for further improvement of athlete preparation with consideration of comparative characteristics.