#WrestleZagreb

Grand Prix Zagreb Open Ten GR Finals Set

Sunday, January 30, 2022 - 05:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (January 30) -- The finals pair at the two-day Grand Prix Zagreb Open are set. The all-Greco-Roman tournament held the qualification and repechage rounds Saturday in all 10 weight categories.

Turkey and Ukraine dominated the day with six and five finalists respectively. Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) managed to reach the final with ease at 72kg and he will face Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) Sunday. 

The final will begin at 1800 hours local time and can be watched at uww.org.

Zagreb Open Finals

55kg
Koriun SAHRADIAN (UKR) vs Denis MIHAI (ROU)

60kg
Viktor PETRYK (UKR) vs Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)

63kg
Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) vs Ahmet UYAR (TUR)

67kg
Morten THORESEN (NOR) vs Murat FIRAT (TUR)

72kg
Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) vs Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)

77kg
Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR) vs Albin OLOFSSON (SWE)

82kg
Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)  vs Filip SACIC (CRO)

87kg
Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) vs Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)

97kg
Felix BALDAUF (NOR) vs Mikalai STADUB (BLR)

130kg
Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) vs Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)

Obituary

Habibi, Iran's first Olympic champion, dies aged 94

Monday, August 25, 2025 - 09:42 By United World Wrestling Press

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TEHRAN, Iran (August 24) -- Emamali HABIBI (IRI), Iran's first-ever Olympic gold medalist and United World Wrestling Hall of Fame member, passed away Sunday aged 94.

Habibi was born Babol in 1931 and won the first Olympic gold medal for Iran in 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Facing Alimbeg BESTAEV in the final round to decide the gold medalist, Habibi secured a fall in the 67kg final and etched his name in history, became first Olympic champion for Iran.

It was a rare feat in those times as he had never wrestled at an international event before the Olympics. He would make his World Championships debut in 1959, winning gold medal at 73kg. He defended his title in 1961 and added a third gold medal in 1962 at 78kg.

Emamali HABIBI (IRI)Emamali HABIBI (IRI) with his World Championships gold medal.

He participated in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome at 73kg and finished fourth. Habibi also has a gold medal at the 1958 Asian Games, held in Tokyo, Japan.

Habibi's legacy also includes his diverse wrestling techniques and speed on the mat which allowed him to win bouts with domination. He is widely considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of his times. He was included in the UWW Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contribution to wrestling.

UWW offers its condolences to Iran Wrestling Federation and the Habibi family.