#WrestleBelgrade

How to watch 2023 Wrestling World Championships

Friday, September 15, 2023 - 21:59 By United World Wrestling Press

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 15) -- The World Championships kick off September 16, 2023, in Belgrade Serbia with close to 1000 wrestlers in three styles -- Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling.

Fans around the world can watch the 2023 Wrestling World Championships live on UWW+, a subscription-based platform. The tournament will be like on uww.org and the official UWW App.

For wrestling fans based in the United States, the Wrestling World Championships will be live on FloSport/FloWrestling.

The World Championships will kick off with Freestyle on September 16 at 10:30 local time with the semifinals scheduled at 16:45 local time after a change in schedule (Earlier the article said that the semifinals will begin at 18:00 local time on the first day). On the second day, the qualification will begin at 10:30, the semifinals at 16:45 and the medal bouts at 18:00.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Wrestling World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia

How to watch the 2023 Wrestling World Championships?

The 2023 Wrestling World Championships will be live on uww.org and the UWW App. Wrestling fans need to subscribe to UWW+ to watch the World Championships.

To watch the Wrestling World Championships in the United States, viewers need to go on FloSport/FloWrestling.

How to subscribe to UWW+?

You can subscribe to UWW+ here or UWW+ Subscribe Now.

What is the schedule of the 2023 Wrestling World Championships?

The schedule of the UWW Wrestling World Championships is it starts on September 16 and ends on September 24.

Which are the official broadcasters of Wrestling World Championships?

Vietnam - VTVCab
Slovakia – Arena TV
Czech Republic – Arena TV
Malaysia – RTM
China – CCTV
Maccau – CCTV
Indonesia - EMTEK
Philippines - EMTEK
Timor-Leste – EMTEK
Mongolia – Premium Sports Network

Which weight classes are competing today in the Wrestling World Championships?

The schedule of the different weight classes is as follows:

September 16: FS 61, 70, 86 & 125kg
September 17: FS 79, 92, 57 & 74kg
September 18: FS 65 & 97kg; WW 55 & 59kg
September 19: WW 65, 50, 57 & 76kg
September 20: WW 72, 53, 62 & 68kg
September 21: GR 55, 82, 77 & 130kg
September 22: GR 72, 60 & 97kg
September 23: GR 63, 67 & 87kg
September 24: GR 63, 67 & 87kg

Are there Paris Olympic quotas at the Wrestling World Championships?

Yes, the 2023 World Championships in wrestling offers 90 Paris Olympic quotas, 30 in each of Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling.

How can wrestlers win the 2024 Olympic Games quotas?

Wrestlers can qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics by earning a quota at the 2023 World Championships. The four medal winners in each of the Olympic weight classes will receive a Paris Olympic quota for the respective National Olympic Committee. The fifth quota in that weight class will be decided by a playoff between the losers of the bronze medal bouts.

Which are the Olympic weight classes in wrestling?

There are 18 Olympic weight classes in wrestling. These are as follows:

Freestyle: 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg
Women's Wrestling: 50kg, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 68kg, 76kg
Greco-Roman: 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg, 130kg

How to follow all the action from the World Championships 2023?

The best to follow the World Championships is to follow United World Wrestling's Instagram, Facebook, X.com, Tiktok and YouTube.

Development

Wrestling Enters a New Era in Southern Africa with Namib Storm and SADC Open Championships

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - 13:57 By United World Wrestling Press

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WINDHOEK, Namibia — July 2025 The Namibian Wrestling Federation (NWF), in partnership with United World Wrestling (UWW) and Olympic Solidarity, launched a landmark initiative to boost wrestling development in Southern Africa: the Namib Storm Wrestling Week and SADC Open Championships, held from 30 June to 5 July 2025 at the Windhoek Showgrounds.

Speaking at the official launch in Windhoek, NWF President Colin Steytler emphasized the significance of this new chapter for the sport:

“This is where everything comes together — grassroots, elite, and development levels. It’s the most important step we’ve taken to date in bringing our strategic goals to life.”

A New Benchmark for Regional Wrestling Development

The week-long event featured two core components:

  • REDT – Namib Storm Training Camp (30 June – 3 July)
    This high-performance camp delivered Level 3 Coaching and Level 2 Refereeing Certification under the guidance of UWW instructors — a first for Namibia and a major milestone for the region.

“You can’t grow grassroots wrestling without qualified coaches,” Steytler noted.
Coaches and officials from multiple countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Mauritius, took part in intensive technical sessions.

  • SADC Open Championships (4 July)
    This tournament gathered elite athletes from Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and beyond — many of whom are continental medallists. Importantly, the SADC Open became the first UWW-rated event in Southern Africa, enabling both athletes and referees to earn international exposure without needing to travel abroad.

“This changes the game,” said Steytler. “We can now compete regionally and still gain global recognition — this saves costs and boosts participation.”

NAMAttendees go through the Level 3 Coaching and Level 2 Refereeing Certification under the guidance of UWW instructors. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Beach Wrestling: Taking the Sport to New Shores

The week concluded on 5 July with a Beach Wrestling showcase, reinforcing UWW’s commitment to accessibility and outreach.

“Beach wrestling will be the only wrestling discipline featured at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal,” Steytler reminded. “And we are proud to host Namibia’s first-ever beach wrestling event in Swakopmund on 7 December 2025.”

Beach wrestling, requiring only sand and a rope, offers a practical and inclusive way to expand the sport into rural and underserved communities — a cornerstone of UWW’s vision.

Towards a Self-Sustaining Wrestling Future

The REDT initiative and Namib Storm programme are part of the NWF’s five-year strategy to develop a self-sustainable wrestling ecosystem, bridging the gap between grassroots and elite competition and aiming for future Olympic qualification and medals.

“The Namib Storm Week and SADC Open pull all of our strategic elements together,” said Steytler. “From here, we take what we’ve built back to the regions and expand wrestling further than ever before.”

This event highlights Southern Africa’s growing role in the global wrestling community and reflects UWW’s dedication to regional empowerment, education, and international competition access.