#Grappling

Grappling: Astana to host 2024 World Championships

Thursday, November 23, 2023 - 20:57 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 23) -- The 2024 Grappling World Championships will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 7 to 12.

The World Championships of all age-groups -- U15, U17, U20, senior and veteran -- will be conducted in the Kazakhstan capital which hosted the 2023 Asian Championships. Specific details of the World Championships will be shared later by UWW.

The 2023 World Championships were held in Warsaw, Poland and saw some of the incredible battles on the mat in Grappling Gi and Grappling No Gi styles.

Astana has the experience of hosting various United World Wrestling competitions and the Grappling World Championships will add to the rich combat sports culture of the city.

Apart from the World Championships, the senior Pan-Am Championships in Grappling will be in held in Miranda, Venezuela on June 15-16.

For the full list of events on the Grappling calendar and all other styles can be accessed at uww.org/events.

Obituary

Habibi, Iran's first Olympic champion, dies aged 94

Monday, August 25, 2025 - 09:42 By United World Wrestling Press

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TEHRAN, Iran (August 24) -- Emamali HABIBI (IRI), Iran's first-ever Olympic gold medalist and United World Wrestling Hall of Fame member, passed away Sunday aged 94.

Habibi was born Babol in 1931 and won the first Olympic gold medal for Iran in 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Facing Alimbeg BESTAEV in the final round to decide the gold medalist, Habibi secured a fall in the 67kg final and etched his name in history, became first Olympic champion for Iran.

It was a rare feat in those times as he had never wrestled at an international event before the Olympics. He would make his World Championships debut in 1959, winning gold medal at 73kg. He defended his title in 1961 and added a third gold medal in 1962 at 78kg.

Emamali HABIBI (IRI)Emamali HABIBI (IRI) with his World Championships gold medal.

He participated in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome at 73kg and finished fourth. Habibi also has a gold medal at the 1958 Asian Games, held in Tokyo, Japan.

Habibi's legacy also includes his diverse wrestling techniques and speed on the mat which allowed him to win bouts with domination. He is widely considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of his times. He was included in the UWW Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contribution to wrestling.

UWW offers its condolences to Iran Wrestling Federation and the Habibi family.