#UWWAwards2022

Akgul Named 2022 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year

Monday, December 26, 2022 - 14:51 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 26) --United World Wrestling has announced Taha AKGUL (TUR) as the 2022 Freestyle Wrestler of the Year after his three title-winning performances in 2022.

Akgul, the three-time world champion, missed out on podium-topping finishing at the World Championships for the last seven years, with his last gold coming in 2015 in Las Vegas. But Akgul rejuvenated his winnings ways in 2022, as he defeated 2021 world champion Amirhossein ZARE (IRI) in the semifinals of the World Championships, before defeating Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 6-2, to win his third world title.

At the beginning of the season, Akgul won the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series gold with five dominant wins. The 32-year-old followed his promising Istanbul performance up with a sensational European Championships, closing out the competition with a three-point win over his arch-rival Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) to win his ninth European C’ship gold.

The three gold medals in 2022 also pushed Akgul to 68000 ranking points, enough for him to finish on the top of the pile at 125kg.

Akgul, who won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, was asked about the difference between his titles in 2015 and 2022.

"Nothing has changed. I have lost twice in the final in the past, that was very annoying. I would have been world champion five times if that had not happened. If I stay healthy and train well, I can beat everyone,” Akgul had said after winning gold in Belgrade.

Development

Big step in women’s wrestling leadership with new members in UWW Bureau

Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - 12:12 By United World Wrestling Press

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TIRANA, Albania (November 6) -- At the UWW 2024 Congress that took place in Tirana, Albania on the October 27, a historic milestone was achieved in women wrestling leadership.

There were seven female candidates for the UWW Bureau, the supreme body of wrestling, marking the highest-ever participation by women in the process.

Kuniko Tanioka (JPN), Annette Kure (NOR), Lise Legrand (FRA), Cholpon Sultanbekova (KGZ), Buyana Peljee (MGL), Nadine Pietschmann (SUI) and UWW Vice-President, Natalia Yariguina (RUS) took part in the race for the Bureau role.

This was the first time that Women Lead Sports alumni being elected to NF president positions and the highest registered female candidates for the Bureau in the history. Rodica Yaksi (TUR) was promoted to Vice-President and Ye Zhang (CHN) has two years left in her term.

A report on the progress made for women coaches and referees at the Paris Olympic Games through the various initiatives and programmes established by UWW Technical Assistance and Development Commission was shared with the national federations that attended the 2024 congress.

“From Tokyo to Paris, we made great strides to promote gender equality within our wrestling community. It is our duty to pave the way for our future generations for equal opportunities, no matter the gender, the religious beliefs, ethnicity, etc.,” UWW President Nenad Lalovic said. “We value and praise those who promote wrestling at all levels. We witnessed that by providing the right programmes and opportunities it strengthens our sport and our community worldwide.”