#UWWAwards

WATCH: UWW's Top 10 Most-Viewed Bouts of '21

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (January 4) -- With the Olympic Games and World Championships held in the same year for the first time, wrestling fans got a chance to watch the stars of the sport not once but twice in 2021. As fans continue to watch and enjoy these battles, here's the list of the top-10 most-viewed bouts of 2021 from the United World Wrestling's YouTube channel.

10 -- European Olympic Qualifiers 65 kg: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs Vagzen TEVANYAN (ARM)

 

9 -- European Championships GR 130 kg: Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) vs Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

 

8 -- Tokyo Olympics FS 97kg: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (ROC) vs Kyle SNYDER (USA)

 

7 -- World Championships WW 62kg: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs Kayla MIRACLE (USA)

 

6 -- Asian Olympic Qualifiers GR 77kg: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) vs Shohei YABIKU (JPN)

 

5 -- Asian Olympic Qualifiers WW 50kg: Seema BISLA (IND) vs Yui SUSAKI (JPN)

 

4 -- World Championships WW 68kg: Rin MIYAJI (JPN) vs Meerim ZHUMANAZAROV (KGZ)

 

3 -- Asian Olympic Qualifiers FS 65kg: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) vs Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)

 

2 -- World Championships FS 86kg: David TAYLOR (USA) vs Hasan YAZDANI (IRI)

 

1 -- World Championships FS 97kg: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF) vs Kyle SNYDER (USA)

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW updates eligibility criteria for Russia, Belarus wrestlers

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 25) -- The United World Wrestling Bureau has decided to update the eligibility criteria for wrestlers and support staff from Russia and Belarus.

UWW had announced eligibility criteria for Russian and Belarussian wrestlers and staff in 2023. However, the Bureau met on September 24 [Tuesday], to review the same and approved the updated criteria.

For future UWW tournaments, only evidence of direct military participation in the war against Ukraine or public declarations [in written or orally] in support of the war and/or of their promoters or participants will be considered to declare an athlete as ineligible.

UWW will also re-examine all cases, according to the new criteria, that had earlier been declared ineligible.

The eligible Russian and Belarussian wrestlers and support staff will continue to compete under the neutral flag as Individual Neutral Athletes.  UWW anthem will be used for ceremonies but no reference to the flag, symbols or coat of arms of Russia and Belarus will be authorized.

The Bureau, however, did not decide on the return of international competition to Russia and Belarus.