#WrestleBelgrade

WATCH: 10 Greco-Roman finals from World Championships

Tuesday, September 27, 2022 - 09:11 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 27) -- The World Championships began with Greco-Roman at the Stark Arena in Belgrade. Host nation Serbia claimed four gold medals out of the 10 on offer. However, it finished third in the team rankings with Turkey, led by legend Riza KAYAALP (TUR), finishing first. Azerbaijan finished second, just seven points behind Turkey.

Apart from Serbia, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan won two gold medals each while two others were shared by Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Watch all the 10 Greco-Roman gold medal bouts from the World Championships.

GOLD: 55kg - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)

GOLD: 60kg - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs. Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL)

GOLD: 63kg - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Sebastian NAD (SRB)

GOLD: 67kg - Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) vs. Mate NEMES (SRB)

GOLD: 72kg - Ali ARSALAN (SRB) vs. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE)

GOLD: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

GOLD: 82kg - Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) vs. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)

GOLD: 87kg - Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) vs. Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN)

GOLD: 97kg - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) vs. Kiril MILOV (BUL)

GOLD: 130kg - Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

Habibi, Iran's first Olympic champion, dies aged 94

Monday, August 25, 2025 - 09:42 By United World Wrestling Press

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) 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.