#WrestleBelgrade

Tickets on sale for 2023 Wrestling World Championships

Thursday, August 3, 2023 - 15:00 By Eric Olanowski

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BELGRADE, Serbia (August 4) -- Tickets are now available for the high-anticipated 2023 Wrestling World Championships which will be held at the Stark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia from September 16-24.

The 2023 Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling World Championships are the first of six qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. A total of 90 Olympic quotas -- 30 each in Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling -- are up for grabs in the Serbian capital.

Wrestlers who earn gold, silver or bronze medals earn a bid to the 2024 Olympics for their nation. Additionally, the two wrestlers who lose the bronze-medal bouts will be involved in a wrestle-off to determine the fifth quota for the Paris Olympics.

Other Olympic Qualification Events:
March 01-03: Pan-American Olympic Qualifier in Acapulco, Mexico 
March 22-24: African and Oceania Olympic Qualifier in Cairo, Egypt
April 04-07: European Olympic Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan
April 19-21: Asian Olympic Qualifier in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
May 09-12: World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkiye

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2023 WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKETS

2023 Wrestling World Championships Event Details:
Dates: September 16th-24th, 2023
Venue: Stark Arena, Bulevar Arsenija Carnojevica 58, New Belgrade

Ticket Prices (Cash Only):
All-session tickets = 450 € / $490.60
Individual daily tickets = 50 € / $55.00

Payment Method:
Please note only cash payments will be accepted for tickets upon arrival at the Stark Arena Accreditation Center.

Ticket Collection:
Fans can collect their tickets at the Accreditation Center at Stark Arena. The ticket collection desk will be open daily from September 14th-24th from 10:00-20:00.

Ticket Pickup Requirements:
When picking up your ticket(s), an ID card is required for verification purposes. Please present your email confirmation at the Accreditation Center to ensure a smooth process.

Note: The event details and ticket information are subject to change. Please stay updated through our official channels for any announcements or adjustments to the schedule.

#UWWAwards

UWW Breakout Wrestlers of 2025: Hidlay, Farokhi, Onishi

Monday, December 15, 2025 - 12:24 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 14) -- The 2025 Breakout Wrestlers of the Year were not the ones anyone circled heading into the season. They weren’t the favorites, or the ones analysts picked to walk away from the season as world medalists.

They were the outsiders, largely unproven and underestimated. But that all changed in a single season when they smashed expectations, catapulting themselves into world-wide stardom with world-title runs that nobody saw coming.

Freestyle Breakout Performer of the Year: Trent HIDLAY (USA)

Before 2025, Hidlay had never climbed to the top of a podium at an international event. His  2025 season even began with more doubt than promise, dropping his second match of the year to rising Azeri phenom Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) at the Zagreb Open. But that loss lit a fuse. From that moment on, the 26-year-old didn’t just improve -- he transformed.

Hidlay unleashed a stunning 13-match win streak and collected gold medals at the Pan-American Championships, the Budapest Ranking Series and the World Championships. Along the way, he knocked off giants -- Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), and Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), just to name a few.

Then came the finale: a world finals comeback for the ages. Down and all but finished, Hidlay stormed back to defeat Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW). In one year, Hidlay didn’t just win -- he arrived.

Greco-Roman Breakout Performer of the Year: Gholemreza FAROKHI (IRI)

When opportunity knocked, Farokhi wasn’t just there to answer it, he was there to kick the door off its hinges. The 23-year-old stepped into Iran’s senior lineup for the first time in his career and tore through anyone in front of him -- whether it was at 82kg or 87kg.

Farokhi bulldozed his way to gold medals at the two World Championships he participated in. He racked up a perfect 17-0 record, including 11 technical superiority wins and six decisions, sweeping gold at the World Championships, U23 World Championships, the Islamic Solidarity Games, and the Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

Women’s Wrestling Breakout Performer of the Year: Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

At 19 years old, Onishi entered the senior circuit with massive goals but had zero experience and zero fear. In mere months, she became a problem no one had an answer for.

Onishi tore through the season with a flawless 15-0 record, capturing titles at the Senior and U20 World Championships, the Asian Championships, and the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series. Her dominance wasn’t subtle -- it was exactly what you’d expect from a Japanese women’s wrestler -- 11 tech falls, three pins, and a decision, outscoring opponents 158-17.