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Enhance Zagreb experience: Conferences, workshops, fan zones

Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - 12:25 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 3) -- The World Championships in Zagreb will be another milestone for United World Wrestling and its promote wrestling.

From assistance to first-ever world conference, UWW is set to host numerous activities before and during the World Championships that enhance the experience of wrestlers, coaches, fans and other stakeholders.

As many 114 athletes and coaches from 41 countries will receive financial assistance from UWW's Technical Assistance Program for the World Championships. They will receive financial support to participate in the tournament for their respective nations. 

Continuing it's Elite Female Coaches Scholarships, UWW has awarded it to five coaches for the World Championships. Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) and Africa's first Olympic medalist in Women's Wrestling Marwa AMRI (TUN) will be two of the beneficiaries of this scholarships.

During the World Championships, UWW will host its first-ever World Conference, from September 17-19. The three-day event will bring together leaders from national federations and various commissions to discuss the future of wrestling. Key topics include athlete career transitions, anti-doping, sports nutrition, and the advancement of women's wrestling.

A workshop for the National Federations is also scheduled to be held on September 19 during the World Conference.

The Scientific Symposium will also held during September 17-19 to discuss scientific wrestling, weight management, data analysis among other topics.

The World Championships will also witness the UWW Athletes' Commission Elections. These will be held throughout the World Championships, September 13-21, with participating wrestlers able to vote for the nominees.

For the wrestlers, the Croatian Wrestling Federation, with the support of UWW will organize an acclimatization camp from September 5 to 16 in Porec, organized by the Croatian NF and financially supported by UWW.

During the acclimatization camp, an education booth will be set up by the Integrational Testing Agency (ITA), on September 8 and 9. The booth is set up to educate wrestlers, coaches and mangers about anti-doping programs.
 
The Zagreb Arena will have fan zones with activities as well throughout the September 13-21 World Championships.

#UWWAwards

UWW's top ranked wrestlers in 30 weight classes

Monday, December 15, 2025 - 07:57 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 15) -- United World Wrestling has announced the top ranked wrestlers for 2025 in all 30 weight classes. The ranks of these wrestlers are defined by the ranking points achieved at the 2025 World Championships, Continental Championships and the four Ranking Series.

Here's the list of top wrestlers, according to UWW rankings, in all the weight classes:

Freestyle

The United States has three wrestlers who finished as the top ranked wrestlers in the weight classes. World champs Zahid VALENCIA (USA) at 86kg, Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg and Kyle SNYDER (USA) at 97kg are ranked one.

Bahrain has two wrestlers finishing as ranked one -- Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) at 79kg and Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) at 125kg.

World champion at 57kg Chongsong HAN (PRK) finished first and so did 61kg world champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW).

Iran, Japan and Slovakia also had one highest ranked wrestler as well with world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) at 65kg and Yoshinosuke AOYAG (JPN) at 70kg. World bronze medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) finished top at 79kg.

57kg - Chongsong HAN (PRK)
61kg - Zavur UGUEV (UWW)
65kg - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)
70kg - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)
74kg - Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
79kg - Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
86kg - Zahid VALENCIA (USA)
92kg - Trent HIDLAY (USA)
97kg - Kyle SNYDER (USA)
125kg - Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN)

Women's Wrestling

Best women's wrestling country, Japan, finished with three number one ranked wrestlers. Sakura ONISHI (JPN) at 59kg, Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg and Ami ISHII (JPN) at 68kg, all world champs, are all ranked number one.

Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) is at the top at 57kg for Turkiye, ANTIM (IND) ranked topped at 53kg, Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) finished best at 55kg, Helen MAROULIS (USA) at 57kg and Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) at 62kg.

Ukraine's got on the list as well with world champion Alla BELINSKA (UKR) ranked number one at 72kg. World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) finished as best wrestler at 76kg. 

50kg - Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)
53kg - ANTIM (IND)
55kg - Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW)
57kg - Helen MAROULIS (USA)
59kg - Sakura ONISHI (JPN)
62kg - Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
65kg - Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
68kg - Ami ISHII (JPN)
72kg - Alla BELINSKA (UKR)
76kg - Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

Greco-Roman

Uzbekistan emerged as the best country in Greco-Roman with three top ranked wrestlers. World champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) at 63kg, Alisher GANIEV (UZB) at 60kg and Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) at 72kg were best.

Georgia and Hungary got two wrestlers each at the top. World champion Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) earned himself the top rank at 55kg while Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) is at 82kg. For Hungary, Alex SZOKE (HUN) at 97kg and Darius VITEK (HUN) at 130kg earned the top rank.

Iran, Turkiye and Serbia earned one spots each at the top of the ranking. Olympic and world champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) became the top ranked wrestler at 67kg, Ahmed YILMAZ (TUR) at 72kg and world champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) at 87kg.

55kg - Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO)
60kg - Alisher GANIEV (UZB)
63kg - Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB)
67kg - Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)
72kg - Abdullo ALIEV (UZB)
77kg - Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR)
82kg - Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
87kg - Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)
97kg - Alex SZOKE (HUN)
130kg - Darius VITEK (HUN)

Each of the top ranked wrestlers in their respective weight classes will receive Swiss Francs (CHF) 5,000.