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Important Updates for Ranking Series, Olympic Qualification Events

Friday, September 6, 2019 - 13:06 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 6) – The Technical Commission of United World Wrestling has approved new regulations for the 2020 Ranking Series events and seeding for Olympic qualification events. The commission has also provided guidance on the calendar for Ranking Series events in 2021-2023.

The first of the 2020 Ranking Series events will be at the end of January and the second will be the first week of June. All three styles will be competed at the same event (as will be the norm in 2021 and beyond). The points earned will be considered when determining the seeds at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

To ensure that the best remaining wrestlers qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Olympic qualification events will include seeds for the top two wrestlers in each category. Athletes from nations who are not qualified for the Olympic Games may earn points at the following events:

  • 2019 Senior World Championships
  • 2020 Senior Continental Championships
  • 2020 1st Ranking Series Event

Should there be a tie among wrestlers at the continental and Last Chance event the seeding criteria will be:

  1. Rank in the 2019 Senior World Championships (in the concerned weight category)
  2. Rank in the 2020 Senior Continental Championships (in the concerned weight category)
  3. The number of events (in the three events mentioned above) in which the athletes competed (in the concerned weight category).
  4. If still a tie, then a seed will be allocated via a number from the UWW Official Draw Device with the lower number earning the seed position.

Please note that an athlete must have at least two ranking points to be eligible for a seed position.

The Technical Commission also approved general guidance for the 2021-2023 Ranking Series. Moving forward, Ranking Series events will be held at the same time and in the same location year-to -- they will also include all three styles of wrestling. In order to ensure geographical equity, it was determined that one Pan-American and one Asian country should host a Ranking Series event, with the other two slated for European destinations.

The general calendar guidelines are as follows:

  • 1st Ranking Series (Beginning of February)
  • 2nd Ranking Series (End of February)
  • 3rd Ranking Series (June)
  • 4th Ranking Series (July. Or August when the Worlds are organized in October)

Locations will be voted on by the bureau in the coming months. National Federations interested in hosting a Ranking Series event are encouraged to contact the Sport Department.

Wrestling 2026 Season Preview: Freestyle, Women's Wrestling, Greco-Roman

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - 11:11 By Vinay Siwach

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 2) -- The 2025 World Championships in Zagreb marked a turning point in international wrestling as 18 first-time world champions were crowned, signaling the arrival of a new generation well before the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games begins.

A few scenes in Zagreb showed what the titles meant. A women’s champion hugging anyone she could find, a Freestyle winner delivering revenge, and a Greco-Roman champion lifting a nation’s pride. Now, 2026 will determine whether those champions can turn a breakthrough into sustained dominance, or if the veterans will reclaim control.

For traditional powers like the United States, Iran, and Japan, maintaining dominance will be harder than ever as more countries close the gap.

In Women’s Wrestling, Japan is being challenged by the DPR Korea, while in Freestyle the U.S. and Iran remain the central rivalry. In Greco-Roman, Iran is undoubtedly the best team in the world but Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are closing the gap as another strong season approaches.

As wrestling moves toward LA 2028, 2026 becomes the year where storylines start to stick. The UWW Pro Series is part of that shift, taking its final shape before launch. Wrestlers will be rewarded for their ranks for the year and will stand a chance to win a grand prize.

The fans can follow wrestling with United World Wrestling through UWW+ on uww.org, Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Freestyle

A Sadulaev vs Yazdani final at the World Championships. A match-up like no other can happen in 2026.

The 2026 season begins with a question: when will Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) return? A dream match against Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) is now firmly on the cards. Yazdani, the 2016 Olympic champion at 74kg, is now competing at 97kg, ten years later. Sadulaev, who won Olympic gold at 86kg in Rio, moved to 97kg soon after that gold.

The Iranian may compete at the Zagreb Open or at the Tirana Ranking Series. If the return is delayed, world silver medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) will likely carry the weight for Iran early in the season.

At the same time, several major stars are preparing comebacks. Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) is expected to return after recovering from shoulder surgery, while Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) is also set to resume competition, most likely around May.

READ THE FULL FREESTYLE PREVIEW HERE

Women’s Wrestling

Japan captured five of the 10 medals on offer at the World Championships and nothing less is expected from its wrestlers. But out of the first four weight classes, it managed to win only one gold and missed out on medals in two of them.

Missing a medal at 50kg is rare for Japan. It happened in 2009, then in 2019 and in 2025. So what can be expected from the best country in Women's Wrestling or perhaps wrestling?

The DPR Korea, China, India, Ukraine and the United States keep challenging Japan at various competitions but it has managed to hold its own. With the gap closing, 2026 will be a similar story.

Continental Championships will be the first test for countries building towards the year-ending World Championships. But these tournaments can also witness the returns of a few wrestlers. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Amit ELOR (USA), Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR), and possibly VINESH (IND).

Additionally, several medal contenders are shifting weight classes in 2026, opening their paths to medals at the World Championships and later at the Olympics.

READ THE FULL WOMEN'S WRESTLING PREVIEW HERE

Greco-Roman

Iran ruled Greco-Roman in 2025 with dominant performances at all levels, and it was not even close. Barring that one battle with Uzbekistan at the U17 World Championships, Iran remained untouched. In 2022 and 2023, it showed signs of long-term dominance and in 2024, it won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Then in 2025, it won team titles at all age-group levels.

At the World Championships in Zagreb, it won four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Out of the 10 wrestlers, eight won medals, missing only at 77kg and 60kg. Will 2026 be Iran's year again?

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) make the core team. World champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) has been the latest sensation, going unbeaten in 2025 and winning the U23 world gold at 87kg. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) is also a proven wrestler at 87kg having won an Olympic and world silver.

Iran has a second team which can challenge any established star in the world. U20 and U23 world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is a wrestler waiting for his turn at 130kg. Hedayati is getting closer to beating Mirzazadeh in selection for the Iran team.

Payam AHMADI (IRI), Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) and Ahmadi VAFA (IRI) are already part of the team while younger stars wait for their turns.

But there has been an influx of talent in Greco-Roman in the new cycle especially with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Armenia and UWW wrestlers stepping up.

READ THE FULL GRECO-ROMAN PREVIEW HERE