#TurkiyeWrestling

Support relief efforts in Turkiye and Syria

Thursday, February 16, 2023 - 10:20 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (February 16) -- Major earthquakes hit south-east Turkiye and the north-west region of Syria on February 6, 2023. With the wrestling community also severely affected, the United World Wrestling has set up a donation drive to support relief efforts for those impacted by the earthquakes.

Voluntary donations can be made here via PayPal.

You can also scan the QR Code here.

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If both the above methods are unavailable in your country, you can donate via bank transfer using the following details:

Beneficiary: UNITED WORLD WRESTLING
Address: Rue du Château 6, 1804 Corsier-sur-Vevey
Bank account number: CH91 0024 3243 2950 6466 Y
SWIFT Code: UBSWCHZH10A
Bank: UBS Switzerland AG
Bank address: PO Box, 1002 Lausanne
Reason of payment: “DONATION EARTHQUAKE”

Note: Beware of scams. This is the only donation page of United World Wrestling. All others are not related to UWW.

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.