rankings

Yazdani Charati Takes Over Top Ranking in Freestyle

Thursday, March 8, 2018 - 14:36 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (March 8) -- Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI), fresh off winning a gold medal at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, takes over the No.1 ranking at 86kg in freestyle. 



Mongolia has four No.1-ranked wrestlers in freestyle, which is more than any other nation. Top-ranked Mongolians in freestyle include Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (57kg), Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (74kg), Turtogtokh LUVSANDORJ (92kg) and Zolboo NATSAGSUREN (125kg).

Other top-ranked wrestlers in freestyle include Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) at 61kg, Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) at 65kg, Ogbonna JOHN (NGR) at 70kg, Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) at 79kg and Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB).

Winners of the Ranking Series events each received 8 points, plus an additional point for ever entry in their bracket. Placement points (plus number entries) were also awarded to the rest of the top five finishers: runner-up (6), bronze (4) and fifth place (2).

Points will be automatically uploaded on the UWW homepage following the conclusion of all Ranking Series events, continental and world championships.

In case of a points tie between two or more athletes, the following will determine the highest ranked individual:

-              Highest number of participation in the ranking events*
-              Highest number of Gold Medals in the ranking events*
-              Highest number of Silver Medals in the ranking events*
-              Highest number of Bronze Medals in the ranking events*
-              The most classification points in the ranking events*
-              The most match won by superiority in the ranking events*
-              The most technical points scored in the ranking events*

* Continental Championship and UWW Select Ranking Events of the concerned year.

Should top seeded athletes not participate in the Senior World Championships or Olympic Games the same criteria will be applied to determine which athletes move into the seeding for the event.

57kg
1. Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) // 32 Points
2. Kumsong KANG (PRK) // 26 Points
3. Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB) // 24 Points
4. Zhandos ISMAILOV (KAZ) // 22 Points
5. Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) // 22 Points

61kg
1. Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) // 32 Points
2. Nurislam (Artas) // SANAYEV (SANAA) // (KAZ) // 24 Points
3. Kazuya KOYANAGI (JPN) // 22 Points
4. Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) // 20 Points
5. Adama DIATTA (SEN) // 19 Points

65kg 
1. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) // 26 Points
2. Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) // 24 Points
3. Temurjon USMONOHUNOV (UZB) // 22 Points
4. Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) // 22 Points
5. Amas DANIEL (NGR) // 21 Points

70kg
1. Ogbonna Emmanuel JOHN (NGR) // 24 Points
2. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) // 24 Points
3. Amr Reda Ramadan HUSSEN (EGY) // 22 Points
4. Seungbong LEE (KOR) // 22 Points
5. Chems Eddine BOUCHAIB (ALG) // 20 Points

74kg
1. Mandakhnaran GANZORIG (MGL) // 32 Points
2. Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) // 30 Points
3. Muslim EVLOEV (KGZ) // 24 Points
4. Mostafa Mohabbali HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) // 20 Points
5. Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) // 20 Points

79kg
1. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) // 31 Points
2. Ezzatollah Abbas AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) // 24 Points
3. Ekerekeme AGIOMOR (NGR) // 20 Points
4. Tsubasa ASAI (JPN) // 20 Points
5. Turbold GANBOLD (MGL) // 20 Points

86kg
1. Hassan Aliazam YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) // 24 Points
2. Melvin BIBO (NGR) // 23 Points
3. Uitumen ORGODOL (MGL) // 22 Points
4. Hein Jakobus JANSE VAN RENSBURG (RSA) // 21 Points
5. David TAYLOR III (USA) // 20 Points

92kg
1. Turtogtokh LUVSANDORJ (MGL) // 27 Points
2. Mohammadjavad Mohammadebrahim EBRAHIMIZIVLAEI (IRI) // 22 Points
3. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) // 20 Points
4. Hosam Mohamed Mostafa MERGHANY (EGY) // 18 Points
5. Azizbek SOLIEV (UZB) // 18 Points

97kg
1. Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) // 36 Points
2. Mojtaba Mohammadshafie GOLEIJ (IRI) // 21 Points
3. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI (JPN) // 19 Points
4. Jaegang KIM (KOR) // 19 Points
5. Martin ERASMUS (RSA) // 18 Points

125kg
1. Zolboo NATSAGSUREN (MGL) // 35 Points
2. Davit MODZMANASHVILI (UZB) // 25 Points
3. Giorgi SAKANDELIDZE (QAT) // 23 Points
4. Amin Hossein TAHERI (IRI) // 21 Points
5. Khaled Omr Zaki Mohamed ABDALLA (EGY) // 19 Points
 

Obituary

Abdullah Movahed: Iranian Legend Who Elevated Wrestling to Art Form

Friday, May 1, 2026 - 10:44 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland, (May 1) -- Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI), one of the all-time greats of world wrestling and a dominant force in Freestyle during the 1960s, passed away in the United States on Thursday, April 30, after suffering a heart stroke. The Iranian legend was 86.

A member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame, Movahed’s name became synonymous with technical brilliance and relentless discipline. A five-time world champion, an Olympic gold medalist and twice Asian Games winner, Movahed was at the forefront of an era of Iranian excellence on the global stage. Competing in the 68kg and 70kg Freestyle weight classes, Movahed achieved a level of sustained dominance rarely seen in the sport.

Born in March 1940 in Babolsar, in Iran’s Mazandaran province, Movahed was introduced to volleyball as a young boy and was known locally for his exploits as a spiker. However, he quit the sport as he felt he wasn’t tall enough and didn’t believe he was suited for it. Ultimately, it was on the wrestling mat that he would carve out his legacy. 

He went on to join the Tehran Javan Sports Club, and as a youngster, Movahed didn’t have it easy. He frequently lost to established wrestlers like Mohammad SANATGARAN (IRI). However, he persevered, and coaches recognized his rare blend of agility, intelligence, and composure under pressure. These traits would define his career.

Movahed emerged during a time when Iranian wrestling was rich in talent. He shared the stage with wrestling legends such as Gholamreza TAKHTI (IRI), Mansour MEHDIZADEH (IRI), Ebrahim SEYFPOUR (IRI), and Emamali HABIBI (IRI). In such a company, greatness was neither guaranteed nor easily attained, but Movahed’s rise was swift.

His breakthrough came in 1962, when the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Freestyle champions travelled to Iran for a series of friendly bouts. His win over Zarbag BERYASHVILI made him an overnight sensation in Iran, and the following year, Movahed made his debut for the Iranian national team at the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

As a 23-year-old rookie, Movahed didn’t make much of an impact -- he shared sixth place with well-known Bulgarian wrestler Enyu VALCHEV (BUL). At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, he showed signs of improvement and finished fourth. A year later, at the World Championships in Manchester, he claimed his first world title, beginning an extraordinary run.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

From 1965 to 1970, Movahed was virtually untouchable. He won six consecutive major global titles at 68kg and 70kg, including World Championships in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970, along with Olympic gold at the 1968 Summer Olympics. That 1968 triumph, often cited as the pinnacle of his career, showcased his tactical mastery and unyielding determination. He also won the gold medal at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Games.

He returned for the 1972 Summer Olympics, but an unfortunate shoulder injury cut his campaign short, preventing a final chapter that might have further illuminated his already illustrious record. After the Games, Movahed, who had a master’s degree, moved to the USA, where he pursued a PhD at George Washington University. He continued to live there after earning his doctorate and worked as a mechanic.

Abdullah MOVAHED (IRI)

Beyond his medals, Movahed’s legacy lies in the standard he set. He helped define a golden generation of Iranian wrestling and inspired countless athletes who followed in his footsteps. His induction into the United World Wrestling's Hall of Fame secured his place among the all-time greats.

In mourning his passing, the wrestling world remembers not just a champion, but a craftsman whose sustained excellence elevated freestyle wrestling to an art form.