U23 World C'ships

UWW Executive Committee Agrees to Cancel U23 World Championships 

Tuesday, September 15, 2020 - 14:08 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 15) -- The United World Wrestling executive committee agreed Monday to cancel the U23 Wrestling World Championships originally scheduled for late October in Tampere, Finland. 

The executive committee also agreed to keep the international tournaments scheduled on the calendar for November and December, but organizers must implement sanitary conditions that protect the health of all participants. The UWW-provided protocols will be subject to review.

No decision was made about the Senior and Junior Worlds scheduled for Belgrade in mid-December.

Additionally, American Samoa was approved as the host nation for the 2021 Oceania championship and Buenos Aires was approved as the host city for the 2021 approved for the Pan-Am Cadets.

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.