2020's Top-Ten

Top Ten Stories from 2020

By United World Wrestling Press

1. President Statement on Tokyo 2020 and Next Steps
Dear Athletes and Members of the Wrestling Community,

Coming from the Joint Statement of the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, I would like to inform you that the Tokyo2020 Games will be postponed to no later than Summer 2021.

This decision was made after accounting for the health of the athletes, those involved in the Olympic Games, and the international community at-large.

The decision to delay will have a significant impact on our athletes and the remaining qualification process. Like other federations and stakeholders, we are waiting to receive more detailed guidelines from the IOC Sports Department concerning the qualification process and will provide an update as soon as possible.

Who's In? Freestyle

2. Who’s In? Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers
In response to the IOC’s decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games until the summer of 2021, United World Wrestling has announced that all Olympic qualification spots already earned will continue to be honored.

Russia crowned four world champions and one bronze medalist in Olympic freestyle weight categories at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, to qualify five weight categories for the Tokyo Olympics. The only weight category not yet qualified for Russia is 125kg.

The United States had a strong performance at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Ottawa, Canada, qualifying three weight categories to go along with the two qualified at the World Championships. 

Kazakhstan has four Olympic qualifiers in freestyle and will look to add to that total at the Asian Olympic Qualifier and World Olympic "Last Chance" Qualifier. 

Cuba, India, and Iran currently sit at three Olympic qualifiers. 

Let's examine where things stand in each of the six freestyle weight categories heading into the final four Olympic qualifying events.

GR

3. Who’s In? Greco-Roman Olympic Qualifiers for #Tokyo2020NE
While seven nations have qualified two wrestlers and a dozen more have qualified one wrestler, the nation-by-nation leaderboard is dominated by Cuba. The small Caribbean island nation has qualified all six Olympic weight categories, a sign that the nation might repeat the unofficial team championship it won at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

Cuba will once again be led by Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (67kg) and three-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (130kg), but look for Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Iran to all make gains during their respective continental qualification tournaments.

The United States has qualified four weight categories, with all coming at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier this March in Ottawa: 60kg, 67kg, 87kg and 97kg. 

American Adam COON captured a world silver medal at 130kg in 2018, but the United States still has yet to qualify there or 77kg.

Who's In: WW

4. Who’s In? Women's Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers
The top women’s wrestling nations are back at it this qualification year as Japan, China, and the lead in the race to accumulate the most Olympic qualifiers.

The United States is the lone nation with all six weight categories qualified in women's wrestling having qualified two weight categories at the 2019 World Championships and adding four more at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Ottawa, Canada.

Japan qualified five of the six weight categories at the World Championships, while China qualified four. Both nations are expected to fill out their Olympic licenses at the Asian Olympic qualification event in March 2021

5. Stars of the Mat Encourage Wrestling Community to 'Stay Strong, Stay at Home'
The stars of United World Wrestling took to social media in massive numbers this week to encourage fellow wrestlers and their fans to "Stay Strong and Stay at Home!"

More than 70 of the world's most successful wrestlers, including Olympic champions Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI), Saori YOSHIDA (JPN), and Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) sent in their messages to United World Wrestling, who has shared their video via Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

6. United World Wrestling Launches Innovative Online Learning Academy
After more than a year of development United World Wrestling has launched its innovative online academy for assisting wrestlers, coaches, referees, and administrators with programs aimed at education, certification and career advancement.

The first version of the site includes the Online Rule Test, the Ready to Wrestle Program, the Introduction to Coaching course and the Level 1 Coaches Course. Coaches interested in anti-doping instruction can also access WADA’s "Coach True" program. 

7. United World Wrestling Partners with Nike Wrestling for ‘We Will Wrestle Again’ Campaign
United World Wrestling, the international governing body for the sport of wrestling, has teamed up with global supplier Nike Wrestling for the “We Will Wrestle Again” campaign. The effort is focused on providing financial relief to wrestling organizations impacted by the global pandemic.

 'We Will Wrestle Again' aims to maximize the reach of UWW and Nike to raise money via tee shirt sales and direct the relief to National Federations, host-cities, and other grassroots activities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tee shirts are available for sale on the United World Wrestling online store: uwwstore.com

FLO

8. United World Wrestling and FloSports Announce Global Broadcast Agreement
United World Wrestling has signed a two-year livestreaming agreement with FloSports for all 2019 and 2020 Ranking Series and Beach Wrestling events.

The two-year agreement will include 12 Ranking Series events in 2019 and four Beach Wrestling championships. All events will be available in the United States on FloWrestling.org.

“United World Wrestling is excited to partner with FloSports in providing promotion and coverage of our Ranking Series events," said Gordon Templeman, Director of Commercial Operations for United World Wrestling. “Our sport is fortunate to have a passionate fanbase and we believe FloSports will excel in connecting these Ranking Series and Beach Wrestling Championships to our core audience.”

We're Back!

9. Wrestling to Organize 'Individual World Cup' In Lieu of 2020 World Championships
After not reaching the criteria defined by the United World Wrestling Bureau in June to host a 'World Championships, the decision was made Tuesday to organize an “Individual World Cup” as substitute event. 

National Federations had been given until Thursday, November 5th to confirm their interest in participating at the 2020 World Championships. UWW had set a benchmark requiring that at least 8 of 10 of the top nations from the 2019 World Championships, and 70% of total athletes, participate in 2020. With many nations reinstating travel restrictions in response to COVID-19 the participation hurdles were not met. 

“We want to see our athletes compete again on the mat. It’s important to our organization and we are committed to providing them an opportunity,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “There are real challenges to overcome, but we are working together to find a safe and acceptable format where our top athletes can compete in a world class event.”

10. Wrestling Returns After 270 Day Absence with Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Dec. 12-18
The 2020 Individual World Cup gets underway Saturday in Belgrade, Serbia, with 505 wrestlers representing 51 different countries. Thirty weight categories in three styles will be contested over seven days of competition. 

The Individual World Cup is serving as a substitute event for the 2020 World Championships. The event was canceled after not fulfilling the criteria set forth by the UWW Bureau. The criteria included having at least 8 of 10 of the top nations from the 2019 World Championships and 70% of total athletes participate in 2020.

The Individual World Cup represents international wrestling's return to competition and will lay the groundwork for safety protocols and countermeasures around all competitions. This will be vital to ensure a safe environment for future competitions in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics.

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships 2026 Live: Women's Wrestling

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 8) -- Women's Wrestling will be in action in 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg at the Asian Championships on day three in Bishkek. The likes of Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), NEHA (IND), Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will take the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | YUI SUSAKI 2.0

76kg semifinals - After her close call in the quarterfinals, Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) leaves no margin for error in storming to an 11-0 win over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) in pursuit of her third straight Asian gold and fourth overall. Medet Kyzy spins behind for the opening takedown, then hits two gut wrenches, then adds a 2-point exposure. When Chang tries to escape by going over the top, Medet Kyzy somersaults her over onto her back for the winning points that end the match in 1:04. An unsuccessful challenge of who-knows-what adds a final point.

Two-time Asian bronze medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) enters her first-ever Asian Championships final after a 7-2 win over Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ). She got the first point for Yerkebayeva's passivity before a double-leg takedown to lead 3-0. As the clock ticked, Yerkebayeva tried a few fake attacks but missed them and Enkh Amar scored two counter takedowns to extend her lead to 7-0. Yerkebayeva scored a late takedown to cut the lead. 

68kg semifinals - Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), wrestling her first Asian Championships at 68kg, into the finals after 7-0 victory over former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the semifinals. She started off with a point for Enkhsaikhan's passivity, then got a takedown when she was put on the activity clock. As the match progressed, Morikawa kept her pressure and scored two different takedowns on the edge to enter the final

Two-time Olympic medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) ends the reign of defending champion Zelu LI (CHN) with a 1-1 victory, much to the delight of the home crowd despite the lack of technical points scored — Zhumanazarova came out on top by virtue of receiving the second of the two activity points. LI gets her activity point in the first period as neither wrestler can find an opening. In the second period, Zhumanazarova gets in on a single-leg takedown, but Li forces the situation to a stalemate. Li is then put on the activity clock, which puts Zhumanazarova up on criteria. In the final minute, Li twice launches an attack, but Zhumanazarova sprawls to safety to make the final for the first time since 2022.

59kg semifinals - Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) becomes the third Japan wrestler to reach the final after a 10-0 blanking of Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) in the 59kg semifinals. She built a 6-0 lead in the first period before another takedown to start the second period to make it 8-0. A sweep-single takedown was her last move to complete a technical superiority victory.

Mengyu XIE (CHN), a former Asian champion looking to improve on her bronze medal from 2025, shrugs NEHA (IND) by and gets behind for an early takedown, to which she adds a gut-wrench. Neha comes back with counter roll for 2 from a front body lock, which the Chinese side unsuccessfully challenges, cutting Xie's lead to 4-3 at the break. A deep single-leg takedown and gut wrench by Xie makes it 8-3. When Xie shoots for a double, Neha locks her up again, this time spinning behind for a takedown, making it 8-5 with a minute to go. Neha twice tries to force Xie over with a front headlock roll, but each time, the Chinese resists and holds the Indian's back toward the mat for a pair of 2-point exposures and a 12-5 win.

55kg semifinals - World bronze medalist Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) continues to dominate in her senior Asian debut, advancing to the final with a one-side 10-0 victory over Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL). Uchida, who won world U17 and U20 titles in recent years but had never competed in a continental tournament, finishes off the match after a second takedown, locking Odonchimeg's arm and levering her over three times to end the bout in 1:33.

Uchida will face returning silver medalist Yuxuan LI (CHN) for the gold medal after the China wrestler completed a dominant 11-1 victory over Hansika LAMBA (IND). Li got on the scoreboard when Lamba was called passive in the first period. Li then tripped Lamba for a takedown and used two gut-wrenches to lead 7-0. Lamba tried getting a takedown but Li was quick to counter and scored a takedown before giving up a reversal for a 9-1 lead. She finished the match with a takedown 6 seconds before the clock expired.

50kg semifinals - In her first tournament since 2024 Paris Olympics, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) has not broken a sweat and is back in the final of Asian Championships. Facing Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ) in the semifinals at 50kg, the three-time Asian champion Susaki scored a go-behind to open the scoring before a gut-wrench gave her a 4-0 lead. She then used a sweep-single to make it 6-0, continue the action using an arm-bar to secure the fall over the Kazakhstan wrestler in just two minutes. Susaki moved into the finals with three wins -- two falls and one technical superiority.

In a clash of medalists from the 2023 Asian Games, former world bronze medalist Son Hyang KIM (PRK) goes behind for an early takedown against Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), then applies the lace lock and twists her over three times for an 8-0 lead before the match hits the minute mark. But Keunimjaeva, a three-time Asian bronze medalist, is not going meekly, and whizzers her way to a 4-point takedown at the edge to cut the lead in half before the break. Kim opens the second period with a duck under to a double-leg takedown to make it 10-4. Two years ago in the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in Bishkek, Keunimjaeva pulled off a miracle late comeback to beat Kim, and she nearly does it again. Locking Kim's arms, Keunimjaeva muscles Kim directly to her back for a 4-pointer in the last 20 seconds. But she can't get the fall, and Kim gets a late exposure for a 12-8 win and rematch with Susaki of the 2017 Asian final.

Qualification session highlights

12:42: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) with an excellent fake attack to get a takedown against KAJAL (IND) to secure the win int the 76kg quarterfinals. Kajal led 3-1 when Yerkebayeva scored a stepout with 25 seconds left. Yerkebayeva managed a leg attack soon but let it go when Kajal fell forward to defend it. The Kazakhstan wrestler just jumped behind to get a takedown which stunned Kajal. Yerkebayev with a 5-3 win, as India challenged at the end and lost it.

12:37: Former world silver medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) secures her spot in the 76kg semifinals with an 8-2 victory over Eunju HWANG (KOR). Leading 4-0, Enkh Amar gains two takedowns in the second period before Hwang gets on the scoreboard with a late takedown

12:35: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), one of the host nation's top stars, avoided what would have arguably been the biggest upset of the tournament so far when she snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat in her 76kg quarterfinal with Wenji LI (CHN). Li, the 2023 Asian U23 champion at 72kg, was the dominant wrestler, using her double-leg takedown to build up a 6-2 lead deep into the second period. But there is a reason that Medet Kyzy is a three-time Asian champion and three-time world medalist. Just when it looked like all was lost, she shot in on a double, rose up to secure a bear hug, and tripped Li directly to her back in the final minute. That four points would have given her the win, but Li wasn't going anywhere and Medet Kyzy secured the fall with :29 left.

12:25: Two-time Olympic medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), looking for her first Asian gold to go with two bronzes and a silver, gets her campaign at 68kg started with an 11-0 win over Thi Linh DANG (VIE). Zhumanazarova is limited to two takedowns in the first period by the gutsy Dang, but after a second-period takedown, she ends the match with a 4-point takedown.

12:24: After a slow first period in which Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) got a point for Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) passivity in their 68kg bout, Morikawa managed to score 10 points in the second to complete a victory over the Kazakhstan wrestler. A takedown and gut-wrenches is what Morikawa used to score her points.

12:16: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) uses her low single to deadly effectiveness in an 11-0 victory over NEELAM (IND) at 50kg that she completes eight seconds inside the first-period buzzer. Neelam did her best to counter Susaki's singles, but the Japanese star kept piling up the points in a four-takedown effort.

12:10: Son Hyang KIM (PRK) continues to impress at 50kg, hitting three gut wrenches after her second takedown to defeat Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) 10-0 in 1:10 and advance to the semifinals

12:07: Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), winner at the Zagreb Ranking Series who is making her senior Asian debut, gets off to a roaring start at 59kg with an 10-0 victory over Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)

12:02: Former Asian champion and world bronze medalist Mengyu XIE (CHN) overwhelms two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), scoring seven points in the first period and then ending the match in the second for an 11-0 win to advance to the 59kg semifinals

11:59: Rising star Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), a 2025 world bronze medalist a year after winning the world U20 gold, storms to a 10-0 victory over Jeongbin OH (KOR) to secure her spot in the 55kg semifinals

11:58: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB), a multiple-time medalist at age-group Asian Championships, begins with a fall over Hyebin AHN (KOR) at 59kg.

11:56: Wenji LI (CHN) proves too powerful for Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) in their qualifying round bout at 76kg, handing the Japanese squad its first loss by topping off two of her three takedowns with 2-point rolls in a 12-2 technical superiority win in 5:31

11:55: NEHA (IND), a former U20 world bronze medalist, starts with a fall over Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (KAZ) at 59kg. She built a 6-0 lead before scoring a takedown and then used a cradle to secure the fall

11:53: An impressive start for last year's runner-up at 55kg, Yuxuan LI (CHN). After a stepout to get started against Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ), Li gains a takedown, then reels off four gut wrenches in succession for an 11-0 victory in just over a minute.

11:52: Five-time Asian medalist and 2023 world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) scores two stepouts in the first period, the second with Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) on the activity clock, and adds two takedowns in the second before finishing the match with a 4-point takedown in the last seconds for an 11-0 victory at 68kg.

11:41: Yi Hui LIN (TPE) stuns Ngoc Linh DO (VIE) with a 4-point takedown with :16 left, then holds on for a 5-4 victory  at 50kg in the opening match on Mat B.

11:35: Son Hyang KIM (PRK), a world bronze medalist and Asian silver medalist way back in 2017, storms into the quarterfinals at 50kg with a 10-0 thrashing of Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI). Kim's most recent accomplishment was a silver at the 2023 Asian Games.

11:34: 53-second fall for Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in her first international match since the 2024 Paris Olympics! Susaki got Ziqi FENG (CHN) in her opening bout at 50kg, a rematch of the final from the 2024 Asian Championships final. Susaki tried two leg attacks but failed to covert them into points. Out of nowhere, Feng tried an arm-spin which was blocked by Susaki. Feng fell back first on the mat and Susaki kept the pressure to secure the fall!

11:30: After two days of exciting Greco-Roman in the morning, the Asian Championships will see Women's Wrestling on the mats. Local stars Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be the favorites at 68kg and 76kg