2020's Top-Ten

Top Ten Stories from 2020

Monday, January 4, 2021 - 16:26 By United World Wrestling Press

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1. President Statement on Tokyo 2020 and Next Steps
Dear Athletes and Members of the Wrestling Community,

Coming from the Joint Statement of the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, I would like to inform you that the Tokyo2020 Games will be postponed to no later than Summer 2021.

This decision was made after accounting for the health of the athletes, those involved in the Olympic Games, and the international community at-large.

The decision to delay will have a significant impact on our athletes and the remaining qualification process. Like other federations and stakeholders, we are waiting to receive more detailed guidelines from the IOC Sports Department concerning the qualification process and will provide an update as soon as possible.

Who's In? Freestyle

2. Who’s In? Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers
In response to the IOC’s decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games until the summer of 2021, United World Wrestling has announced that all Olympic qualification spots already earned will continue to be honored.

Russia crowned four world champions and one bronze medalist in Olympic freestyle weight categories at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, to qualify five weight categories for the Tokyo Olympics. The only weight category not yet qualified for Russia is 125kg.

The United States had a strong performance at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Ottawa, Canada, qualifying three weight categories to go along with the two qualified at the World Championships. 

Kazakhstan has four Olympic qualifiers in freestyle and will look to add to that total at the Asian Olympic Qualifier and World Olympic "Last Chance" Qualifier. 

Cuba, India, and Iran currently sit at three Olympic qualifiers. 

Let's examine where things stand in each of the six freestyle weight categories heading into the final four Olympic qualifying events.

GR

3. Who’s In? Greco-Roman Olympic Qualifiers for #Tokyo2020NE
While seven nations have qualified two wrestlers and a dozen more have qualified one wrestler, the nation-by-nation leaderboard is dominated by Cuba. The small Caribbean island nation has qualified all six Olympic weight categories, a sign that the nation might repeat the unofficial team championship it won at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

Cuba will once again be led by Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (67kg) and three-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (130kg), but look for Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Iran to all make gains during their respective continental qualification tournaments.

The United States has qualified four weight categories, with all coming at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier this March in Ottawa: 60kg, 67kg, 87kg and 97kg. 

American Adam COON captured a world silver medal at 130kg in 2018, but the United States still has yet to qualify there or 77kg.

Who's In: WW

4. Who’s In? Women's Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers
The top women’s wrestling nations are back at it this qualification year as Japan, China, and the lead in the race to accumulate the most Olympic qualifiers.

The United States is the lone nation with all six weight categories qualified in women's wrestling having qualified two weight categories at the 2019 World Championships and adding four more at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Ottawa, Canada.

Japan qualified five of the six weight categories at the World Championships, while China qualified four. Both nations are expected to fill out their Olympic licenses at the Asian Olympic qualification event in March 2021

5. Stars of the Mat Encourage Wrestling Community to 'Stay Strong, Stay at Home'
The stars of United World Wrestling took to social media in massive numbers this week to encourage fellow wrestlers and their fans to "Stay Strong and Stay at Home!"

More than 70 of the world's most successful wrestlers, including Olympic champions Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI), Saori YOSHIDA (JPN), and Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) sent in their messages to United World Wrestling, who has shared their video via Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

6. United World Wrestling Launches Innovative Online Learning Academy
After more than a year of development United World Wrestling has launched its innovative online academy for assisting wrestlers, coaches, referees, and administrators with programs aimed at education, certification and career advancement.

The first version of the site includes the Online Rule Test, the Ready to Wrestle Program, the Introduction to Coaching course and the Level 1 Coaches Course. Coaches interested in anti-doping instruction can also access WADA’s "Coach True" program. 

7. United World Wrestling Partners with Nike Wrestling for ‘We Will Wrestle Again’ Campaign
United World Wrestling, the international governing body for the sport of wrestling, has teamed up with global supplier Nike Wrestling for the “We Will Wrestle Again” campaign. The effort is focused on providing financial relief to wrestling organizations impacted by the global pandemic.

 'We Will Wrestle Again' aims to maximize the reach of UWW and Nike to raise money via tee shirt sales and direct the relief to National Federations, host-cities, and other grassroots activities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tee shirts are available for sale on the United World Wrestling online store: uwwstore.com

FLO

8. United World Wrestling and FloSports Announce Global Broadcast Agreement
United World Wrestling has signed a two-year livestreaming agreement with FloSports for all 2019 and 2020 Ranking Series and Beach Wrestling events.

The two-year agreement will include 12 Ranking Series events in 2019 and four Beach Wrestling championships. All events will be available in the United States on FloWrestling.org.

“United World Wrestling is excited to partner with FloSports in providing promotion and coverage of our Ranking Series events," said Gordon Templeman, Director of Commercial Operations for United World Wrestling. “Our sport is fortunate to have a passionate fanbase and we believe FloSports will excel in connecting these Ranking Series and Beach Wrestling Championships to our core audience.”

We're Back!

9. Wrestling to Organize 'Individual World Cup' In Lieu of 2020 World Championships
After not reaching the criteria defined by the United World Wrestling Bureau in June to host a 'World Championships, the decision was made Tuesday to organize an “Individual World Cup” as substitute event. 

National Federations had been given until Thursday, November 5th to confirm their interest in participating at the 2020 World Championships. UWW had set a benchmark requiring that at least 8 of 10 of the top nations from the 2019 World Championships, and 70% of total athletes, participate in 2020. With many nations reinstating travel restrictions in response to COVID-19 the participation hurdles were not met. 

“We want to see our athletes compete again on the mat. It’s important to our organization and we are committed to providing them an opportunity,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “There are real challenges to overcome, but we are working together to find a safe and acceptable format where our top athletes can compete in a world class event.”

10. Wrestling Returns After 270 Day Absence with Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Dec. 12-18
The 2020 Individual World Cup gets underway Saturday in Belgrade, Serbia, with 505 wrestlers representing 51 different countries. Thirty weight categories in three styles will be contested over seven days of competition. 

The Individual World Cup is serving as a substitute event for the 2020 World Championships. The event was canceled after not fulfilling the criteria set forth by the UWW Bureau. The criteria included having at least 8 of 10 of the top nations from the 2019 World Championships and 70% of total athletes participate in 2020.

The Individual World Cup represents international wrestling's return to competition and will lay the groundwork for safety protocols and countermeasures around all competitions. This will be vital to ensure a safe environment for future competitions in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics.

#WrestleBudapest

Yazdani lands in Budapest with eyes on Belgrade

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 - 23:26 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 12) -- Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) has enthralled wrestling fans with perhaps some of the most exciting bouts in the last two years. His two barn burners against Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) in 2022 were a show of wrestling at its best.

Slowly, Akmataliev has become the top wrestler at 70kg despite not winning the World Championships in Oslo or Belgrade. But he is always there and about. At the 2020 Individual World Cup, he was a takedown away from beating Haji ALIYEV (AZE). He qualified for the Olympics in 2021 after pinning Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB).

Away from the limelight for some time, Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) has seen Akmataliev rise in the ranks. Yazdani, who holds a 2-1 head-to-head record against Akmataliev, seems to have missed opportunities to be the star at 70kg.

He was one of the victims of Akmataliev's dream run at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in 2021 and suffered a 14-12 loss against him in the final, a bout which even had former Olympic champion Alireza DABIR (IRI) shouting instructions from the stands.

To be among the contenders at 70kg come the World Championships, Yazdani has traveled to Budapest to be part of the fourth and final Ranking Series of the calendar.

United World Wrestling released the freestyle draws for the final Ranking Series Wednesday in which Yazdani is on the lower side of the bracket but faces a stern test to make the final.

Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), Joseph MC KENNA (USA) and Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) will be eyeing a spot in the final as well which means a likely clash with Yazdani who is in action only for the second time this year.

Wrestling at the Dan Kolov in Bulgaria in March, Yazdani injured himself and had to undergo surgery.

“Due to the injury in Bulgaria, I reduced some of my training and sought treatment,” he said. “But after that, I did high-intensity exercises and now I am in good physical condition.”

He would need to be at his cent percent as he faces some of the tough names. If he does make it to the final, Yazdani would hope to have another go at Akmataliev, this time in Europe.

Akmataliev begins his campaign against U23 world champion Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO). He will fancy his chances for a win and a place in the quarterfinal.

Yazdani, despite his positive record against Akmataliev, is not taking the opponent lightly if the two meet in Budapest.

“I have wrestled him three times and lost one so I am familiar with his style and I hope I can beat him again,” Yazdani said.

At the 2019 Takhti Cup, Yazdani rolled to an 18-8 technical superiority win after catching Akmataliev in a gut-wrench. Akmataliev pulled one back in Almaty before Yazdani defeated him 10-7 at the World Cup in December.

In all three bouts, Yazdani realized that Akmataliev likes to go for the big moves. The Iranian says it is one of the strong features of Akmataliev's wrestling.

“I think he is good at big throws and working with his hands,” Yazdani said.

Akmataliev, undoubtedly, has become a top wrestler using his crafty throws from tight situations and top-level defense. His has put Yazdani in trouble, most recently at the World Cup in Iowa where the latter was clearly struggling with his conditioning.

However, Yazdani cannot have any letdowns in Budapest as the Ranking Series holds extra significance for him. It will determine Yazdani's fate for the World Championships as a win or a finish better than the other Iran wrestler in the bracket, Mohammad BAKHSHISHIRKOLAEI (IRI), will seal his place on Iran's world team.

“At the moment, I am focusing on the tournament as it will determine whether I will come to the World Championships or not,” he said.

While he would leave no stone unturned to achieve that, neither Yazdani nor Akmataliev would mind another go at each. As it can only happen in the final, Friday can give wrestling fans a bout to remember.