Development

United World Wrestling's Commitment: Empowering Athletes and Coaches for the Paris Olympics

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 22) -- In a remarkable demonstration of dedication and support for athletes, United World Wrestling (UWW) has played an important role in helping athletes qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Olympic Solidarity, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and UWW Development, a total of 213 athletes and coaches benefited from the UWW Technical Assistance for the continental qualifiers and participated in acclimatization camps ahead of the continental qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.

In total, over 200,000 CHF has been invested globally in helping athletes qualify for the Games via continental qualifiers. This substantial financial commitment underscores UWW's unwavering dedication to nurturing wrestling talent and fostering elite-level development of the sport worldwide.

Athletes Qualified for the Paris Olympic Games
The result of this concerted effort has been outstanding, with 9 athletes under UWW financial support from 4 different nations successfully qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games.

The following athletes have secured their spots at the Paris Olympic Games via the continental qualifiers:

  • Chaimaa Fouzia Aouissi (ALG)
  • Bacar Ndum (GBS)
  • Diamantino Iuna Fafe (GBS)
  • Oussama Assad (MAR)
  • Gaku Akazawa (SAM)
  • Tayla Tuahine Ford (NZL)
  • Genesis Rosangela Reasco Valdez (ECU)
  • Darian Toi Ruz (PUR)
  • Ethan Adrian Ramos (PUR)

In addition, last year, through UWW Technical Assistance provided during the Senior World Championships (1st phase of the Paris OG qualifier), 3 athletes secured their qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. These athletes are:

  • Sebastian C Rivera (PUR)
  • Otgonjargal Dolgorjav (MGL)
  • Tatiana Renteria Renteria (COL)

In total 12 athletes benefited from the UWW financial support qualified spots for the Paris Olympic Games.

Refugee Athletes
With the support of Olympic Solidarity, the following refugee athletes have also qualified and will be part of the Refugee Olympic Team:

  • Iman MAHDAVI
  • Jamal VALIZADEH

Empowering Female Coaches at Elite Level
In addition to the athletes, the Olympic Solidarity and UWW Women in Sport High-Performance (WISH) program has made a significant advancement for gender equality in wrestling.

Three WISH program coaches attended the continental Olympic qualifiers:

  • Marwa Amri (TUN)
  • Carissa Holland (AUS)
  • Happiness Enugu Burutu (NGR)

This initiative marks a significant step forward for the sport of wrestling, contributing to the expansion of elite female coaches participating in high-level international competitions.

Safeguarding Athletes at Olympic Qualifiers
In alignment with IOC recommendations, United World Wrestling (UWW) has taken proactive measures to safeguard athletes participating in championships and Olympic Qualifiers. Dedicated staff members have been stationed at these events to provide vigilant oversight and ensure athletes' safety, protecting them from any form of harassment or abuse.

UWW's steadfast commitment to athlete welfare extends beyond competition success, prioritizing their well-being and creating a secure environment conducive to athletic excellence. By implementing these measures, UWW upholds the principles of fairness, respect, and integrity, fostering a culture where athletes can thrive and pursue their Olympic aspirations, reinforcing the organization's role as a guardian of athlete rights and dignity on the global stage.

United World Wrestling's comprehensive support system, encompassing financial aid, technical assistance, and development programs, has been crucial in helping athletes and coaches achieve their dreams of qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games. This initiative not only highlights the global reach and impact of UWW but also underscores its commitment to fostering talent and promoting gender equality and inclusion in the sport of wrestling. As the countdown to the Paris Olympic Games continues, the success stories of these athletes and coaches will undoubtedly inspire future generations of wrestlers worldwide.

#AmateurMMA

Amateur MMA World Championships 2025 Entry List

By United World Wrestling Press

NOVI SAD, Serbia (September 30) -- United World Wrestling's senior Amateur MMA World Championships will be held in Novi Sad, Serbia from October 17 to 19.

Both men's and women's competition will be held in nine weight classes. All matches will be live on the UWW Website.

Men's Amateur MMA

57kg
Aboubakary COULIBALY (FRA)
Nidhan JUNAIZ (IND)
Arian BABAEI (IRI)
Mansur SEPTEGEN (KAZ)
Stanislav DREMLIUHA (UKR)
Ilia RAIU (UWW)

62kg
Fakhri ALIYEV (AZE)
Scott HEATHCOTE (CAN)
Cedrick BISSOUT (CMR)
Abdoulmalick BAILLOT (FRA)
Aayush DIPU (IND)
Reza GHOLINIA (IRI)
Olzhas YERLANOV (KAZ)
Denis PALANCICA (MDA)
Karo GABRIEL (NGR)
Pawel GRZESZCZAK (POL)
Ferit GOKTEPE (TUR)
Mykhailo KAZYMERCHUK (UKR)
Aleksandr MARIENKO (UWW)

66kg
Sardar SARDARLI (AZE)
Daniel GOMBOS (CAN)
Cedric EYENGA (CMR)
Matej DRAVINAC (CRO)
Adil IKHLAZOV (FRA)
Alexander LUSTER (GER)
Arash SAMIEI (IRI)
Nurbolat ABU (KAZ)
Chukwuemerie OKOLI (NGR)
Arsen NASLYAN (POL)
Yurii PASYCH (UKR)
Magomed ELZHARKIEV (UWW)

71kg
Nihad GULIYEV (AZE)
Max KAMA (CMR)
Antoni GONCZ (FRA)
Ali GUENDUEZ (GER)
Rudransh AZAD (IND)
Mohammadreza FADAEE (IRI)
Koshen AKANOV (KAZ)
Emmanuel NWORIE (NGR)
Kaan ACAR (TUR)
Oleksandr HULIAIEV (UKR)
Safar RAMAZANOV (UWW)
Anvarjon GOYIBOV (UZB)

77kg
Kieto PACHECO (ANG)
Vasif AHLIMANOV (AZE)
Salomon MAYENGUE (CMR)
Mathys DEGOULET (FRA)
Sayyed CHERDEYAN (IRI)
Niko RIZZO (ITA)
Olzhas YESKARAYEV (KAZ)
Gheorghe BALAUR (MDA)
Kyryl KYSELOV (UKR)
Gabriel MUSCAT (USA)
Andrei MIADZUN (UWW)
Gairbek DALGATOV (UWW)

84kg
Gunduz NABIYEV (AZE)
Mike KANCEL (FRA)
Dominic KYLE (IND)
Amirali SAYAD (IRI)
Samandar RUZMATOV (KAZ)
Eduard Yani ZAHARIA (ROU)
Ruslan ARSLANGEREEV (TUR)
Oleksii STRYZHKO (UKR)
Eduard KUTSKO (UWW)
Magomed MAKHAMAEV (UWW)

93kg
Abdoulkhadre DRAME (FRA)
Sina VARMAGHANI (IRI)
Maxim KONOVALOV (KAZ)
Vadym ZHUKOV (UKR)
Artsiom ZHURAULIOU (UWW)
Makhmud MAKHMUDOV (UWW)

100kg
Joao SALOMAO (ANG)
Yanko FALEU (FRA)
Elvis GROHMANN (GER)
Javad REZAEI (IRI)
Mahsun SEHZADE (TUR)
Yurii BOHORODCHENKO (UKR)
Said GUTAEV (UWW)
Asrorbek ANVARJONOV (UZB)

130kg
Nezar ALKHABBAZ (GER)
Amir FARHADPOR (IRI)
Rassul KHATAYEV (KAZ)
Liviu MALUDA (MDA)
Oleksandr KHODAKOV (UKR)
Vladimir DAINEKO (UWW)

Women's Amateur MMA

50kg
Pernelle ABOMO (CMR)
Anna BEZHENAR (UKR)
Daria ROMANOVA (UWW)

53kg
Aigerim TOREKHANOVA (KAZ)
Wiktoria ANDRUCH (POL)
Veronika VYKHVATEN (UWW)

57kg
Katarina KUFEK (CRO)
Justine TAILFER (FRA)
Divya RAHI (IND)
Zhuldyzay IBRAYEVA (KAZ)
Daria CHIBISOVA (UKR)
Viktoriia DUDAKOVA (UWW)

61kg
Sonia BOUCHAIR (FRA)
Lorena CUBERO (GER)
Yana MELNYCHUK (UKR)
Veronika SUSHINA (UWW)
Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB)

65kg
Ismahane BOUZIDI (FRA)
Oliwia STAWSKA (POL)
Yuliia MELNYCHUK (UKR)
Khalida TIMOFEEVA (UWW)
Natalie KUTZLI (USA)

70kg
Fanny MOUNGOUN (CMR)
Sofiia ZHENEVSKA (UKR)
Lilit TAMAZIAN (UWW)

75kg
Anna ERSHOVA (UWW)

80kg
Mereke ZHUNUSSOVA (KAZ)
Dana DROZHZHINA (UWW)