European Tour For N.Z. Wrestler

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30445, 20 May 1964, Page 15

European Tour For N.Z. Wrestler

[From the London Correspondent of “The Press”]

THE former New Zealand Olympic wrestler, J. Da Silva, who has become well established in the professional field in Britain, will

in May embark on a fourmonths’ tour of Europe which will embrace appearances in the German cities of Karlsruhe, Krefeld, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, as well as many Austrian, French and Spanish towns In Germany and at Innsbruck he will compete in the annual series of AllNations’ tournaments in which, in 1959. he was twice runner-up. Then for a month he will holiday in Spain before returning to England to resume his ring activities. In the meantime. Da Silva is wrestling throughout Great Britain in what he terms “every city and large town from Exeter to Aberdeen.” His itineray includes Belfast, his wife’s home town.

“I find wrestling has become extremely popular throughout Great Britain in the last five years,” he said, “and 11 million are reputed to watch it every Saturday on television.

Da Silva has bought a home in London. He has also a large motor-caravan which enables him, as the weather permits, to take his family touring about tne country.

Persia, he said, was one of the most interesting countries in which to wrestle, because it was the national sport there. Such was the dedicated approach or Persians to wrestling that it was small wonder tbeirrepresentatives accomplished so such in Olympic competition.

“I renewed acquaintance in Persia with the man who outpointed me in the

Olympic Games in Melbourne —I. Nouri. He, however, has remained an amateur.”