#WrestlePlovdiv

WATCH: #WrestlePlovdiv 10 Greco-Roman Finals

Tuesday, March 15, 2022 - 16:21 By United World Wrestling Press

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria -- The Greco-Roman competition at the U23 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria saw some epic comebacks, big throws and a lot of action. Georgia won the team title ahead of Turkey and Azerbaijan as it won four gold along with three silver and bronze helped their team win the team title with 183 points.

Here are the 10 Greco-Roman finals from the U23 European Championships.

55kg: GOLD - Emre MUTLU (TUR) vs Denis DEMIROV (BUL)

60kg: GOLD - Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO) vs Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)

63kg: GOLD - Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO) vs Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)

67kg: GOLD - Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) vs Kadir KAMAL (TUR)

72kg: GOLD - Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) vs Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)

77kg: GOLD - Khasay HASANLI (AZE) vs Davit SOLOGASHVILI (GEO)

82kg: GOLD - Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) vs Beka GURULI (GEO)

87kg: GOLD - Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) vs Istvan TAKACS (HUN)

97kg: GOLD - Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) vs Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)

130kg: GOLD - Dariusz VITEK (HUN) vs Fatih BOZKURT (TUR)

Habibi, Iran's first Olympic champion, dies aged 94

Monday, August 25, 2025 - 09:42 By United World Wrestling Press

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) 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.