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Krasnoyarsk to Host 2022 World C’Ships; Bureau Adds Age and Term Restrictions

Saturday, September 14, 2019 - 05:39 By United World Wrestling Press

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NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (September 14) – The United World Wrestling bureau passed a series of decisions yesterday during a meeting before the start of the 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships at the Barys Arena in Nur-Sultan.

Topping the outcomes was the selection of Krasnoyarsk as host of the 2022 Senior Wrestling World Championships. The Russian city is well known to wrestling fans as host city of the prestigious Ivan Yaryiguin Invitational held each January in memory of the two-time Olympic champion.

The 2022 championships will be Krasnoyarsk’s first time hosting the combined world championships and the first world championships since the Siberian city welcomed men’s freestyle in 1997.

The bureau also named several cities as hosts for the 2021 season, highlighted by Guatemala City (Pan-Am) and Katowice (Europe) each set to be senior-level hosts of the continental championships. The Russian city of Ufa was also named the host of the Junior World Championships and Belgrade as host the U23 World Championships.

The full and updated calendar of events can be found at www.unitedworldwrestling.org/events.

In a move meant to better align with established Olympic norms Bureau members approved limiting the age of Bureau members to 75 years old and the term of president to two (2) six-year terms. For consistency across the organization, the bureau also approved a limitation on the term of continental presidents, who may now serve no more than three terms of four years each.

Changes to the UWW constitution require the affirmation of the Congress which will take place in fall of 2020.

In addition to host city allocations and self-governance the bureau also approved the nominees for the 2020 Hall of Fame ceremony in Tokyo.

Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) a three-time Olympic champion, Olympic silver medalist and 13-time world champion was nominated to the Hall of Fame in the “Legend” category. She will be joined by former teammate, Olympic champion and eight-time World Champion Hitomi OBARA SAKAMOTO (JPN) who looks to enter the Hall of Fame as a member of women’s wrestling.

The men’s freestyle nominations included twin brothers John PETERSON (USA) and Ben PETERSON (USA). The Peterson’s each won Olympic gold, Olympic silver, world silver and world bronze.

In Greco-Roman, Gheorghe BERCEANU (ROU) - who won Olympic gold, Olympic silver and was a two-time world champion - was nominated alongside Olympic and world gold medalist Pertti UKKOLA (FIN).

Mr. MOLINA (CUB) was nominated as a referee and Yuri SHAKHMURADOV (RUS) as a coach.

Mr. Shakhmuradov was also added to the Women and Sport commission.

The 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships begin at 11am local with action in four Greco-Roman weight categories. Semifinals will begin at 6pm local.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026: Greco-Roman Storylines to Watch

Monday, July 13, 2026 - 09:20 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 13) -- Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Russia, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are among the countries bringing full Greco-Roman squads for the Budapest Wrestling Ranking Series, scheduled from July 15 to 19.

Among the many stars and storylines that will be played out in Budapest, a few will be under extra spotlight. Here's what to watch in Greco-Roman at the final Ranking Series stop for the year:

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Evloev Returns After 5 Years

Musa EVLOEV (RUS) was among the best wrestlers in the world and he confirmed that by winning the 97kg Greco-Roman gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. A two-time world champion, Evloev was at the peak of his career from 2018 to 2021.

After losing to legend Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) at the 2017 World Championships, Evloev went on an unbeaten run. He defeated Aleksayan in the 2018 World Championships final, 2020 Individual World Cup and the Tokyo final.

However, Evloev has not competed since. He made his comeback at the Benur Pashayan Memorial held in Armenia, but lost his first bout, 3-2, to U23 world champion Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM).

In Budapest, Evloev would be keen on addressing his shortcomings and getting used to competing, especially under new Greco-Roman rules.

In addition to Khloyan, world bronze medalist Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), two German young stars Darius KIEFER (GER) and Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), European medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN), Asian silver medalist NITESH (IND), former U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), and Olympic bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) are also in the entries.

Uzbekistan's Top Team

Uzbekistan is bringing a strong squad to Budapest led by world champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB). Since winning the 63kg gold last year, Khalmakhanov has moved up to 67kg and won the Zagreb Open and U23 Asian Championships.

He will now face the 67kg field in Budapest that includes European medalist Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), U23 world champion Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY), European medalist Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), among others.

World silver medalist Alisher GANIEV (UZB) is also in a tough bracket at 60kg. Olympic medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will be at 60kg after a stint at 63kg at the Ulaabaatar Open in which he lost a group bout but still won gold.

Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) and Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) both will be tough opponents for Ganiev, who is be joined by compatriot Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB). Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) and Sadyk LALAEV (RUS) too, can cause trouble.

Uzbekistan, perhaps to select teams for the World Championships and the Asian Games, have entered two wrestlers in almost all weights. At 77kg, world medalist Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) and Asian medalist Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) will be up against some big names.

Former U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) has moved up to 77kg while age-group world champion Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) will be making his senior debut. Hungary has entered three wrestlers, Robert FRITSCH (HUN), Levente LEVAI (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), making the field even deeper.

Others at 77kg include Idris IBAEV (GER), Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and Joel ADAMS (USA).

Can Cengiz Challenge?

Since finishing 10th at the Paris Olympics, former world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) has not been competing. He will mark his return in Budapest at 87kg, but can he challenge the young field after his two-year absence?

Asian champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) will be his biggest test apart from the three Hungarian hammers Tamas LEVAI (HUN), Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and Istvan TAKACS (HUN).

Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) is also entered in the bracket and can make a run to the gold medal on his day.

Battles Everywhere

At 82kg, Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) will be up against old nemesis Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), the Paris Olympic silver medalist who shattered Makhmudov's dreams of winning a gold medal.

Asian champion and Qatar history-maker Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) at 82kg will be among the wrestlers eyeing gold in Budapest. A win here will make him one of the favorites to win gold in Astana. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) is also entered.

Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will have his task cut out at 63kg against Asian champion Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), European champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) and Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS), who will also wrestle for the first time since 2021.

At 130kg, most countries have gone with two wrestlers. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) and Darius VITEK (HUN) are medal contenders at home. Kazakhstan has gone with Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ) and Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ).

Former European champion Sergei SEMENOV (RUS) is back and will battle youngster Marat KAMPAROV (RUS) as both seek places on Russia's World Championships team. The United States has gone with three wrestlers, Aden ATTAO (USA), Adam COON (USA) and Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA).