Women's Wrestling

Wrestler Yasemin Adar Wins Mustafa Koç Sports Award

Monday, September 17, 2018 - 22:58 By GİLA BENMAYOR

Share this article

Mustafa Koç, the late Turkish businessman who we lost too soon, was a leading advocate of the United Nations’ “HeForShe” initiative, which aims to get the support of men for gender equality. If he could have seen who won the second Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award, organized by Holding and the Turkish Olympics Committee, he would surely have been very pleased.

Designed by the famous designer Ivan Chermayeff, and presented by Caroline Koç, the wife of the late businessman, the award trophy was received this year by 2018 World Wrestling Champion Yasemin Adar.

She is Turkey’s first woman world champion wrestler. Adar, who also earned a 200,000 Turkish Lira prize, is a three-time successive (2016-2017-2018) world champion. When top jury Caroline Koç announced the award, she described Adar as “determined, hardworking and disciplined.” After an emotional introductory film, Adar’s speech revealed the determination of a woman who chose wrestling, widely considered a “sports for men.”
 

Do women ever wrestle? 

“When I started wrestling, there were many prejudices. I was often told I should not do this sport and that I could not do it. As a woman, I proved what I could achieve by ignoring what was being said, by never giving up, believing in myself, never stopping and by practicing with passion.”

Adar is a role model for all women in Turkey who wish to take up wrestling.

In many cities of Turkey, there are “women’s wrestling clubs” which were opened after Adar’s successes.

There are many girls who wish to follow her and achieve success just like her. Adar already stressed this in her speech. “I now believe that my struggle was for the new generation of wrestler girls. I stepped on that mat in order to lead their way.”

A legendary name in the Olympics

Another meaningful speech during the ceremony was made by another woman who thought exactly the same as Adar years ago in the sense of leading the way for women. The first African Muslim female athlete who managed to win a gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics: Nawal El Moutawakel from Morocco.

El Moutawakel, who used to be a vice president in the International Olympics Committee and who became Morocco’s sports and youth minister twice, is one of the legendary figures of the Olympics. Today, she is one of the leading figures of the international Olympics community.

“When I participated in the 1984 Olympics, nobody knew me and nobody believed in me,” she said in her speech.

During her successful career, El Moutawakel struggled for women’s liberation in sports.

“I am where I stand now thanks to the sports,” she said. El Moutawakel, who led the way for Muslim female athletes in the 1980s, and Adar, who leads the way for the female wrestling sports in Turkey, came together due to the Mustafa Koc Sports Awards. Watching and listening to them was a pleasure for all ceremony attendees.

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series 2026 Entries

Thursday, May 21, 2026 - 04:59 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 21) -- United World Wrestling's continental championships are over and the Ranking Series will return for its third stop.

Ulaanbaatar Open, the third Ranking Series of the year, will be held in the Mongolian capital from June 4-7.

Note: The entries are subject to change 72 hours before the draws of respective style. For latest, click here

UWW Plus

Greco-Roman

55kg
LALIT (IND)
Payam AHMADI (IRI)
Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL)
Sumiyabazar MUNKHZAYA (MGL)
Emin CAKIR (TUR)

60kg
BAOYINJIYA (CHN)
SAHIL (IND)
SUMIT (IND)
Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)
Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ)
Dahyun KIM (KOR)
Seunghak KIM (KOR)
Yu Chol RO (PRK)

63kg
Sunny KUMAR (IND)
Erfan JARKANI (IRI)
Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI)
Doszhan UTEPKALIYEV (KAZ)
Yerkebulan ARDAKOV (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Hyunwoong CHOI (KOR)

67kg
Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS)
Alamusi ALAMUSI (CHN)
Xinxin JIN (CHN)
Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND)
Karajit SINGH (IND)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Otgonnasan TSERENPUNTSAG (MGL)
Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL)
Man Gwang SON (PRK)
Murat FIRAT (TUR)

72kg
ANIL (IND)
Javad REZAEI (IRI)
Danial SOHRABI (IRI)
Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)
Amanat SAMAT UULU (KGZ)
Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ)
Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ)
Minseong KWON (KOR)
Aldarkhuu YESUNCHUDUR (MGL)
Borgil TUVSHINBAATAR (MGL)

77kg
Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL)
Amuguleng BAI (CHN)
AMAN (IND)
Ankit GULIA (IND)
Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ)
Yeonghun NOH (KOR)
Kyeongbin LEE (KOR)
Ariyabadraa TUUL (MGL)
Jason BAUCAS (PHI)

82kg
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL)
Imur TEMIRBEKOV (KGZ)
Lkhagvasuren DASHJAMTS (MGL)
Orgil NYAM ERDENE (MGL)
Turbold ENKHBAYAR (MGL)

87kg
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
PRINCE (IND)
Rohit BURA (IND)
Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)
Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ)
Seunghwan LEE (KOR)
Batbayar TSOGTBAATAR (MGL)
Turbold GANBOLD (MGL)
Usukhbayar BAATARKHUU (MGL)
Luis AVENDANO (VEN)

97kg
ADIYA (CHN)
Kevin MEJIA (HON)
NITESH (IND)
Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ)
Minho LEE (KOR)
Batsuuri PUREVDORJ (MGL)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Tuvshinsanaa ERDENEJARGAL (MGL)
Juan DIAZ (VEN)

130kg
Zhiyong DONG (CHN)
Gino AVILA (HON)
Joginder RATHEE (IND)
Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Lkhagvajamts MUNKHDORJ (MGL)
Nambardagva BATBAYAR (MGL)
Moises PEREZ (VEN)

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)

Freestyle

57kg
DENGBURILE (CHN)
ANKUSH (IND)
SUMIT (IND)
Abzal OKENOV (KAZ)
Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)
Sangboum HAN (KOR)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL)
Jiguur SARANTUYA (MGL)
Batmend ZORIGOO (MGL)
Chong Song HAN (PRK)
Darian Toi CRUZ (PUR)
Musa MEKHTIKHANOV (RUS)
Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK)
Pedro MEJIAS (VEN)

61kg
Georgii OKOROKOV (AUS)
DEEPAK (IND)
Ahora KHATERI (IRI)
Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ)
Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ)
Adilet ALMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ)
Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ)
Batnasan GANKHULEG (MGL)
Tserendondov DORJPUREV (MGL)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Bair BAIANDUEV (RUS)

65kg
Shamil MAMEDOV (BUL)
Mohit KUMAR (IND)
ROHIT (IND)
SUJEET (IND)
Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)
Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ)
Junsik YUN (KOR)
Gantulga BATBAATAR (MGL)
Turbayar DAVAANYAM (MGL)
Zeneemeder BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Kwang Jin KIM (PRK)
Christopher COMPOSTO (USA)

70kg
ABHIMANYOU (IND)
Rodion ANCHUGIN (KAZ)
Bakdaulet AKIMZHAN (KAZ)
Aden SAKYBAEV (KGZ)
Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Usukhbayar BAATARKHUU (MGL)
Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL)
Konstantin KAPRYNOV (RUS)
Magomed ELTEMIROV (RUS)
Cross WASILEWSKI (USA)

74kg
BATUQINGGELE (CHN)
Erihetu BAYIN (CHN)
JAIDEEP (IND)
Sagar JAGLAN (IND)
Sandeep MANN (IND)
Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ)
Daegil HAN (KOR)
Jin su JEON (KOR)
Sangho HAN (KOR)
Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Tolui MUNKHBAT (MGL)
Tugsjargal ERDENEBAT (MGL)
Tamir ESHINIMAEV (RUS)
Tumen BODIEV (RUS)

79kg
MOHIT (IND)
Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI)
Nurdaulet KUANYSHBAY (KAZ)
Shamsat TAIR (KAZ)
Bekzat RAKHIMOV (KGZ)
Gan Erdene BAATARKHUU (MGL)
Khangaibayar GANBOLD (MGL)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Ismail KHANIEV (RUS)

86kg
Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)
Suhe GANG (CHN)
ARYAN (IND)
Mukul DAHIYA (IND)
Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI)
Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)
Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ)
Gyeongyeon LEE (KOR)
Taegyu HWANG (KOR)
Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL)
Bilguundalai PUREVDAGVA (MGL)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Abdulmuslim ABULMUSLIMOV (RUS)
Weng CHOW (SGP)

92kg
Punit KUMAR (IND)
Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI)
Bekzat AMANGALI (KAZ)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Yelnar SHILDEBAY (KAZ)
Sung Yup RYU (KOR)
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Delgerdalai DEMBEREL (MGL)
Ganbat TSERENPUNTSAG (MGL)
Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS)

97kg
Thomas BARNS (AUS)
Yaraslau SLAVIKOUSKI (BLR)
TUXIGE (CHN)
Deepak CHAHAL (IND)
VICKY (IND)
Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ)
Juhwan SEO (KOR)
Pureun KIM (KOR)
Demchigdorj TUMURBAATAR (MGL)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Mukhamed Takhir KHANIEV (RUS)
Cristian SARCO (VEN)

125kg
BUHEEERDUN (CHN)
DINESH (IND)
RONAK (IND)
Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Altangerel CHINBAT (MGL)
Nambardagva BATBAYAR (MGL)
Narantulga DARMAABAZAR (MGL)
Kamil KOSCIOLEK POL
Robert BARAN POL
Timur KOTAEV (RUS)
Jose DIAZ (VEN)

Kyong Ryong OH (PRK)Kyong Ryong OH (PRK), world champion at 55kg, will be wrestling at 53kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Ziqi FENG (CHN)
NEELAM (IND)
SWEETY (IND)
Miyu NAKAMURA (JPN)
Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL)
Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL)
Suvd Erdene BAYARBAATAR (MGL)
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
Son Hyang KIM (PRK)
Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)

53kg
NAOGUGAN (CHN)
MEENAKSHI (IND)
MUSKAN (IND)
Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)
Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Seoyoung PARK (KOR)
Chuluun Erdene BATTOGTOKH (MGL)
Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL)
Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR)
Kyong Ryong OH (PRK)
Andreea ANA (ROU)
Natalia MALYSHEVA (RUS)
Alexa ALVAREZ (VEN)

55kg
Hansika LAMBA (IND)
Natsumi MASUDA (JPN)
Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ)
Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL)
Bayarjargal TUMURBAATAR (MGL)
Chimgee BUYANDALAI (MGL)
Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK)
Beatrice FERENT (ROU)
Tuba DEMIR (TUR)

57kg
MANISHA (IND)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Youngjin KWON (KOR)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL)
Il Sim SON (PRK)
Danielle LIM (SGP)
Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR)

59kg
NEHA (IND)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Enkhtuvshin BALJINNYAM (MGL)
Saruul ERDENEBILEG (MGL)
Pyol HONG (PRK)
Eleonora USEINOVA (RUS)
Bediha GUN (TUR)

62kg
Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
Huan YANG (CHN)
MANSI (IND)
NITIKA (IND)
Subeen JO (KOR)
Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL)
Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL)
Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Ok Ju KIM (PRK)
Amina CAPEZAN (ROU)
Amina TANDELOVA (RUS)
Ekaterina OLEINIKOVA (RUS)
Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

65kg
Shuai ZHANG (CHN)
PULKIT (IND)
Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL)
Erdenebulgan LKHAGVASUREN (MGL)
Narkhajid NYAMSUREN (MGL)
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK)

68kg
Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ)
Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Gantsetseg BATSUKH (MGL)
Odzaya ERDENEBAT (MGL)
Sol Gum PAK (PRK)
Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU)
Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Nathaly GRIMAN (VEN)

72kg
HARSHITA (IND)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Batsuren MYAGMARSUREN (MGL)
Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
Odgerel ERDENE OCHIR (MGL)
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
Olesia BEZUGLOVA (RUS)

76kg
Saihan AO (CHN)
Wenji LI (CHN)
KAJAL (IND)
PRIYA (IND)
Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Eunju HWANG (KOR)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Tuvshinjargal TARAV (MGL)
Urtnasan GAN OCHIR (MGL)
Damola OJO (NGR)
Patrycja CUBER (POL)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Valeriia TRIFONOVA (RUS)