The CajaCanarias Foundation continued its sixth annual Canary Wrestling Belt Tournament on Sunday, 2nd November. The competition, catering to pre-benjamín, benjamín, alevín, and infantil categories—both male and female—will be held at various locations throughout the Canary Islands until the grand final on 30th November, which will take place at the municipal wrestling ground in Vecindario (Gran Canaria). The registration process to participate, free of charge, is currently available at www.cajacanarias.com.
VI Canary Wrestling Belt Tournament – CajaCanarias Foundation: Fuerteventura Winners Announced
The fifth round, part of the competition in Fuerteventura, occurred at the traditional wrestling ground in Antigua, attracting 120 wrestlers from various local wrestling schools, who entertained the audience with a delightful morning of this indigenous sport.
Winners by Category
In the pre-benjamín male category, Juan Emilio Monzón (CL El Saladar de Jandía) triumphed after defeating Yazan Husa (CL Faro de Jandía) in the final. The female pre-benjamín title went to Naroa Carmona from CL Unión Tetir, who beat Leyre Sosa from CL Rosario.
In the benjamín category, Lian Doble from CL Faro de Jandía claimed victory by defeating Enzo Alonso (CL El Saladar de Jandía). The female competition saw Anayara Díaz (CL Faro de Jandía) triumph over África Gutiérrez (CL Rosario).
In the alevín male category, Althay Hernández (CL Unión Tetir) overcame Adrián Hernández (CL Maxorata). The female champion was Yaneli Ruíz from CL Matorral, who defeated Raquel Sánchez (CL Faro de Jandía). In the infantil category, Airam Ruíz and Kaled Hernández, both from CL Unión Antigua, were crowned champion and runner-up, respectively, while Yumara Betancor (CL Unión Tetir) claimed victory over Sara Trujillo (CL Faro de Jandía) in the female category.
Path to the Grand Final
The winners have now qualified to participate in the regional grand final on 30th November, where the overall champions of the CajaCanarias Belt Tournament 2025 will be determined. The finalists will compete in a preliminary qualification round the day before to secure their place in the final event. The next round of the VI Canary Wrestling Belt Tournament will take place on Sunday, 9th November, at the Ángel Armas “Pollito de la barriada” municipal wrestling ground in Granadilla de Abona, to find out the winners of the pre-benjamín and benjamín categories on the island of Tenerife.
Acknowledgments and Prizes
Prominent figures in attendance included Luis González, Sports Councillor of the Cabildo Insular of Fuerteventura; Martín Cano, President of the Fuerteventura Canary Wrestling Federation; and Óliver González, General Director of the CajaCanarias Foundation. Alongside the medals and awards for all participants, prizes were presented for the most spectacular matches, awarded to:
- Eidam Bermejo (CL Unión Antigua, pre-benjamín male)
- Aitana Pérez (CL Unión Tetir, pre-benjamín female)
- Fabio Cabrera (CL Maxorata, benjamín male)
- Valentina Moséguez (CL Unión Antigua, benjamín female)
- Álvaro Ávila (CL Maxorata, alevín male)
- Luca Nahuel (CL Unión Tetir, infantil male)
- Atenea González (CL Unión Tetir, infantil female)
History of the Tournament
Since 1943 until the mid-1960s, Absolute Championships were held in the Canary Islands to determine the best wrestler of the year. These competitions started to be categorized in the 1950s and, from 1961, by weight classes as well. Winners were awarded a belt, which signified the highest status a wrestler could achieve, held throughout the year. Recognised figures in this traditional sport, such as Víctor Rodríguez, Alfredo Martín “El Palmero”, José Rodríguez “Faro de Maspalomas”, Felipe del Castillo, and Nino Morales, participated in these legendary belt challenges during their time.
For this reason, the CajaCanarias Foundation continues its historic commitment to supporting our sports and traditional practices—hallmarks of the institution since its inception—by reviving an important wrestling tradition with the organisation of the VI Belt Tournament. Taking place from October to November, this year’s focus is on grassroots practitioners, aiming to stimulate healthy competition and camaraderie among pre-benjamín, benjamín, alevín, and infantil wrestlers, fostering the future of Canary wrestling. In doing so, the CajaCanarias Foundation reaffirms its dedication to promoting and organising sports activities for young people, with the intention of enhancing their engagement in the islands.
