#NFRoundup

NF Roundup Blog, March 15 - March 21

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 - 14:13 By United World Wrestling Press

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The Russian National Freestyle Championships wrapped up over the weekend in Ulan-Ude. Although arguably the top pound-for-pound wrestler in the world Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) was released from the competition, '19 world champions Zavur UGUEV, Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV and Zaurbek SIDAKOV were in action.

The biggest storyline from the competition came at 74kg where two-time reigning world champion Sidakov scored three points in the final 12 seconds to defeat Individual World Cup champion Razambek ZHAMALOV, 3-2. After the bout, the newly-minted champion said,  "I haven’t had anything more difficult than today's championship."

Russian National Finals Results
57kg: Zavur UGUEV df. Nachyn MONGUSH, 9-5
61kg: Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV df. Muslim METIKHANOV, 4-1
65kg: Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV df. Zagir SHAKHIEV, 5-3
70kg: Israil KASUMOV df. Evgeny ZHERBAEV, 6-3 
74kg: Zaurbek SIDAKOV df. Razambek Zhamalov, 3-2 
79kg: Malik SHAVAEV df. Akhmed USMANOV, 6-4
86kg: Artur NAIFONOV df. Dauren KURUGLIEV, 1-1  ⠀
92kg: Magomed KURBANOV df. Anzor URISHEV, via forfeit
97kg: Alikhan ZHABRAILOV df. Aslanbek Sotiev - 5: 0
125kg: Sergey KOZYREV df. Atsamaz TEBLOYEV, 3-3

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.