#UWWAwards2022

Amouzad, Elor, Nazaryan Tabbed as UWW's Rising Stars of 2022

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), Amit ELOR (USA) and Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) had outstanding results in 2022 and have been named United World Wrestling’s Rising Stars of the Year.

Amouzad, at just 20 years old, won golds at the Asian and World Championships this season and scored incredible 2022 wins over veterans Bajrang PUNIA & Haji ALIYEV (AZE), before closing out his near-perfect World Championships with a win over Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) in the final to capture the 65kg gold.

Elor had a phenomenal season, becoming the first American to win three world titles in a single season.

The 19-year-old won U20 world gold in August and a senior-level world title in September, before capping off a historic year with a U23 world title in October, joining a rare list of wrestlers who won gold medals at every World Championships.

In Greco-Roman, Nazaryan extended his family tradition of excelling on the big stage.

Just 20 years old, the Bulgarian reached the European and World Championships finals this year and made it clear that he is ready for the big stage at such a young age.

His runs include wins over Olympic silver Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN), and European foes Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) and Erik TORBA (HUN).

While he fell short of crossing the final hurdle at both tournaments, Nazaryan has put his name in the hat at 60kg for the coming future.

#WrestleCasablanca

WATCH LIVE: African Championships 2025 Guide

By United World Wrestling Press

CASABLANCA, Morocco (May 3) — The African Championships began on April 29 with U17 age group followed by the U20 competition which was held on Thursday and Friday. The senior African Championships, held on Saturday and Sunday, began with Greco-Roman competition in all 10 weight classes and five Women’s Wrestling weight classes — 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg and 76kg. Freestyle will be held on Sunday in all 10 weight classes. The remaining five Women's Wrestling weight classes -- 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 65kg, and 72kg -- will also be in action.

Watch live matches here — WATCH LIVE

Follow live match order here — LIVE MATCH ORDER

Follow live results here — LIVE RESULTS

List of participants for African Championships — PARTICIPANTS

All brackets for African Championships — BRACKETS

Full schedule of African Championships — SCHEDULE

The Freestyle weight classes and remaining five Women's Wrestling weight classes in action Sunday, May 4.