#WrestleAlmaty

LIVE BLOG: Senior Asian Championships, Day Four

Friday, April 16, 2021 - 05:05 By United World Wrestling Press

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Women's wrestling will see 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg in action at the Senior Asian Championships in Almaty

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

1810 hrs: Vinesh (IND) wins her first Asian title. She gets the fall over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) to win gold at 53kg

1415 hrs: Four Indians reach the finals today. Impressive performance from them. Chance for Vinesh at 53kg, Sakshi MALIK at 65kg and Anshu at 57kg to claim their first Asian titles at senior level 

1310 hrs: We are rolling into the semifinals shortly after the qualifications

1255 hrs: A two-minute 37 second victory by technical superiority for VINESH (IND) at 53kg. She is looking very good for her first Asian Championships title

1230 hrs: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is out there to dominate! She rolls through with a 12-2 tech dec over Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) at 62kg

1200 hrs: The Indian wrestlers are here with a goal. All of the four in action (SONAM at 62kg is injured), have won their bouts.

1140 hrs: Vinesh, Anshu, Tynybekova and KUZNETSOVA all start on a winning note on Mat B

1131 hrs: Keep your eyes on Mat B! Lot of superstars in action. VINESH (IND), ANSHU (IND), TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ).

1130 hrs: Welcome to day four of the Asian Championships from Almaty. Lot of sun out there to make up for the early cold days.

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.