#BudaWrestle2018

Staebler Tops Korpasi to Claim No.3, Bacsi Wins No.2 in Home Country

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 26) -- Frank STAEBLER (GER) came from behind late to claim his third world title on Friday night at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

The 29-year-old Staebler faced crowd favorite Balint KORPASI (HUN), a 2016 world champion, in the gold-medal match at 72kg. The German star scored the first point of the match off a passivity, but Korpasi took the lead in the second period with a passivity point of his own.

Trailing on criteria late, Staebler scored a step out with less than a minute remaining to take a 2-1 lead and held on for the victory.  

Wrestling in his home country, Peter BACSI (HUN) came back to win his second world title, beating Emrah KUS (TUR) 4-3 in the finals at 82kg. Kus controlled the early part of the match and took a 3-0 lead into the second period. The 35-year-old Bacsi rallied in the second period, scoring a passivity point before locking up a gut wrench and turning Kus. He then added a step out with a minute and half remaining to grab a 4-3 lead, which proved to be the difference. 

Two-time junior world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) captured his first senior world title with a dominant 10-0 technical fall over Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in less than a minute in the gold-medal match at 55kg. 

Azizli wasted little time putting points on the scoreboard, using a front headlock to secure a four-point throw and adding an additional two points off a leg foul. The match ended a short time later as Azizli lifted Sharshenbekov and scored a four-point throw for the technical fall.

After winning a world bronze last year, Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) upgraded his world medal by claiming a gold medal at 63kg with a 6-3 win over Olympic bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB). 

Maryanyan picked up a takedown 40 seconds into the match and added a passivity point to lead 3-0 at the break. Tasmuradov scored a passivity point in the second period and then used a gut wrench to score another two. However, a flurry ensued and Maryanyan received two exposure points. After a failed challenge by Uzbekistan, the Russian led by three and held on to win.

Bronze medals at 55kg went to Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) and Ekrem OZTURK (TUR). Tsurtsumia used a pair of arm throws to roll to an 11-0 technical fall over Liguo CAO (CHN). It's the Georgian's first senior world medal after winning two junior world medals. Ozturk, a university world champion, shut out Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM) 4-0. 

Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) topped Erbatu TUO (CHN) 3-1 in the first bronze-medal match at 63kg. Temirov, a 2010 junior world bronze medalist, used a late first-period takedown to pace him to the victory. Rahman BILICI (TUR) defeated Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) 6-1 for the other bronze medal at 63kg. The 28-year-old Bilici broke open a close match in the second period with a headlock to go up 4-1. He would add a takedown to win by five.

Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) used a gut wrench to cruise to a 9-0 first-period technical fall over Tarek BENAISSA (ALG) in the first bronze-medal match at 72kg. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), a 2015 world champion, added his fourth world-level medal with a 4-3 win over Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS).

In a battle of returning world medalists, 2017 world champion Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) defeated Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) 4-1 in the first bronze-medal match at 82kg. Abdvali led 1-1 on criteria in the second period before Manukyan scored two points from the front headlock position and held on to win by three after a failed challenge by Iran. Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) used two second-period turns to defeat Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) 5-1 in the other bronze-medal match at 82kg. It's Azisbekov's second world medal after winning a silver in 2015. 

Finals Results

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Liguo CAO (CHN) by VSU, 11-0
BRONZE: Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) df. Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM) by VPO, 4-0

63kg
GOLD: Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) by VPO1, 6-3
BRONZE: Rahman BILICI (TUR) df. Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) by VPO1, 6-1
BRONZE: Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) df. Erbatu TUO (CHN) by VPO1, 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Frank STAEBLER (GER) df. Balint KORPASI (HUN) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) df. Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) by VPO1, 4-3
BRONZE: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) df. Tarek BENAISSA (ALG) by VSU, 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Peter BACSI (HUN) df. Emrah KUS (TUR) by VPO1, 4-3
BRONZE: Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) df. Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) by VPO1, 5-1
BRONZE: Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) df. Saeid Morad ABDVALI (IRI) by VPO1, 4-1
 

#development

UWW hosts fifth Women in Wrestling Global Forum in Mongolia

By United World Wrestling Press

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (October 14) -- The fifth edition of the Women in Wrestling Global Forum 2025 took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from October 7 to 11, bringing together more than 34 women leaders, athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators from 21 countries.

Hosted by the Mongolian Wrestling Federation and the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, the Forum was opened by representatives of the Mongolian Wrestling Federation and the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, including the NOC Vice President Choijgavaa NARAMBAATAR.

The opening session reflected the support of United World Wrestling’s leadership, represented by UWW Vice Presidents Natalia YARIGUINA and Rodica YAKSI, Bureau Members, and the Development team. All the speakers highlighted UWW's commitment to gender equality and leadership education.

"It was a great Forum," Yaksi said. "We have participants from all continents and from around the world. Some were coaches, wrestlers, referees, and some in sports administration. We tried different activities to make every one comfortable."

Guided by UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY and educators Rafael GALVA and Edit DOZSA, the Forum offered leadership sessions, practical workshops, and cultural experiences. The participants explored stakeholder engagement, communication styles, sustainability, coaching strategies, and athlete safety.

In a special segment, Mariana DIAZ MUNOZ (MEX) and Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP) presented "Luchadoras de Iberoamérica," a joint project promoting female empowerment in sport. Olympic medalist and Kyrgyzstan's first world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) shared her journey from being a national pioneer and creating history for Kyrgyzstan. 

The Forum participants visited the Chinggis Khaan Museum and attended a traditional wrestling "Bokh" session in Ulaanbaatar and learned about the origins of wrestling the country.

"The whole program was an amazing experience," Yaksi said. "The biggest achievement of this Forum over the years is that it brings together people of different field who are ready to help each other grow in wrestling."