Good times lie ahead says Morley

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Posted: Friday 18th July 2008 | 11:42

THERE will be no British wrestlers in Beijing but Team GB's performance director Shaun Morley insists they will make up for their absence in London in 2012.

After years in the doldrums the Brits are beginning to make moves in the right direction with several encouraging results in 2008.

Noel Loban's freestyle light-heavyweight bronze at Los Angeles in 1984 was the last medal won by a British competitor.

But after Krasimir Krastanov won gold at the inaugural GB Cup in Sheffield in June and Leon Rattigan and Olga Buktevych took silvers - Morley is convinced good times lie ahead.

"Those results marked a real milestone and everything is going forwards towards London 2012," said Morley.

"They were magnificent results against a high-class field. The performances were a significant step forward for British wrestling as the guys have proved that they are capable of competing at a world-class level."

Krastanov took gold by beating Canada's David Tremblay, who will be in Beijing, while Rattigan lost to Germany's Marc Bushile in the 96kg event and Poland's Paulina Grabowka saw off Buktevych in the 63kg category.

And there were more reasons to be cheerful when Chinu Chinu, David Sweeney, Scott Gregory, Oleksander Madyarchyk, Sergei Latyshev and Oleg Druzhynets won bronze medals.

CRAIG CHISNALL