#WrestleAlmaty

Watch: Bolat Turlykhanov Cup ten freestyle finals

Wednesday, June 8, 2022 - 10:13 By Vinay Siwach

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (June 8) -- The Bolat Turlykhanov Cup marked the second Ranking Series event of the year and wrestlers took this opportunity to grab some crucial ranking points.

Iran brought a strong freestyle team with three world champions and a U20 world champion to Almaty. All four of them reached the final of their respective weight classes with three winning gold.

Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) suffered a shock loss for the first time at a Ranking Series but returned to win the bronze medal at 65kg.

Here are the 10 freestyle finals from Almaty.

57kg: Round 5 - AMAN (IND) vs. Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)

61kg - GOLD: Zhassulan TASKUL (KAZ) vs. Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ)

65kg: GOLD - Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) vs. Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)

70kg: GOLD - Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. Rodion ANCHUGIN (KAZ)

74kg: GOLD - Byambadorj BAT-ERDENE (MGL) vs. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)

79kg: GOLD - Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ) vs. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ)

86kg: GOLD - Boris MAKOEV (SVK) vs. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

92kg: GOLD - Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)

97kg - GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) vs. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK)

125kg: GOLD - Amir ZARE (IRI) vs. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)

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.