#WrestleIstanbul

WATCH: 10 Greco-Roman Finals from #WrestleIstanbul

Tuesday, March 1, 2022 - 12:57 By United World Wrestling Press

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (March 3) -- The Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series event was held in Istanbul, Turkey last week as the UWW calendar kicked off in style.

The tournament witnessed a high number of participants in all three styles. It began with Greco-Roman and 10 champions were crowned in Istanbul.

GOLD: GR 55kg - Adem UZUN (TUR) vs Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)

 

GOLD: GR 60kg - Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) vs Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)

 

GOLD: GR 63kg - Victor CIOBANU (MDA) vs Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

 

GOLD: 67kg - Morten THORESEN (NOR) vs Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) 

 

GOLD: 72kg - Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) vs Selcuk CAN (TUR) 

 

GOLD: 77kg - Yunus BASAR (TUR) vs Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)

 

GOLD: 82kg - Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) vs Mihail BRADU (MDA)

 

GOLD: 87kg - Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) vs Islam ABBASOV (AZE)

 

GOLD: 97kg - Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) vs Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)

 

GOLD: 130kg - Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) vs Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)

 

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.