Women's World Cup

World Cup to Include Sweden

Sunday, February 11, 2018 - 15:42 By United World Wrestling Press

Share this article

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (February 11) -- United World Wrestling has announced that Sweden will replace Turkey at the 2018 Women's World Cup in Takasaki Japan.

Sweden was the 9th ranked team at the 2017 World Championships, with Turkey finishing 5th. Below is a list of the entries for the World Cup, with the Group Draws to be determined in the coming weeks and announced on the UWW homepage.

  1. Japan
  2. Belarus
  3. United States
  4. Mongolia
  5. Canada
  6. China
  7. Romania 
  8. Sweden

The Women's World Cup will be held March 17th and 18th in Takasaki, Japan. There have been 16 previous World Cups with Japan winning 9 team titles, China 6 and the United States 1.

Obituary

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

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

Share this article

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.