#wrestlenursultan

Wrestling Releases Entry Lists for 2019 World Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Thursday, September 5) – United World Wrestling has received and reviewed the final entry lists for each of the 100 nations attending the 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships in Nur-Sultan.

For ease of use, the entry lists are attached in excel form, but also made available online via Google Sheets. Online users can filter and arrange the information using the “Data” dropdown, or the Filter icon on the upper right-hand side of the document. This will help any press to easily find athletes by country, style, or weight as well as provide the full and correct spelling of their name.

Please note that some countries have entered two athletes in the official entry list. This is to preserve their spot as training partners in the event hall. The full media guide, released on Monday, will include expected lineups and top seeds.

Google Sheets

 

Obituary

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

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)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.