Obituary

Armenia's Stefan Kazaryan, Hall of Fame Wrestler and Referee, Dies at 84

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 24) -- Stefan KAZARYAN (ARM), former wrestler and referee inducted into the UWW Hall of Fame in 2011, has died. He was 84.

In addition to success on the mats and as a referee, Kazarayan was also an establishing member of the FILA Coaches, Technical, and Advanced School for Coaches Department.

Kazaryan's Resume

  • 10 times referee at the Olympic Games
  • Instructed over than 100 international Referee courses
  • Has been awarded with the FILA Golden Whistle 1984
  • Has received FILA medals in 1976, 1987, 2010
  • Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2011

#JapanWrestling

Watch Live Meiji Cup 2026: Japan Selects Team for World Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

TOKYO, Japan (May 21) -- The Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships is being held at the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium from May 21 to 24, 2026.

Japan will be selecting its teams for the 2026 World Championships and the Asian Games. If the winners of 2025 Emperor's Cup Japan Nationals and the 2026 Meiji Cup are same in the respective weight classes, the wrestler will automatically get the spot for both World Championships and Asian Games.

If the winners are different, then a special wrestle-off will be held soon after the finals to decide the winner.

The weight classes in action on Day 3 are:

Till semifinals: FS 57kg, 65kg, 74kg; GR 60kg, 77kg, 87kg; WW 50kg, 57kg, 62kg

Medal Bouts: FS 79kg, 86kg, 125kg; GR 67kg, 72kg, 97kg; WW 53kg, 68kg, 76kg  

Japan Wrestling Live: Meiji Cup 2026 Watch Live Mat A

Japan Wrestling Live: Meiji Cup 2026 Watch Live Mat B

Japan Wrestling Live: Meiji Cup 2026 Watch Live Mat C