#UWWAwards2022

Amouzad, Elor, Nazaryan Tabbed as UWW's Rising Stars of 2022

Thursday, December 22, 2022 - 13:02 By Eric Olanowski

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 22) -- Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), Amit ELOR (USA) and Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) had outstanding results in 2022 and have been named United World Wrestling’s Rising Stars of the Year.

Amouzad, at just 20 years old, won golds at the Asian and World Championships this season and scored incredible 2022 wins over veterans Bajrang PUNIA & Haji ALIYEV (AZE), before closing out his near-perfect World Championships with a win over Yianni Diakomihalis (USA) in the final to capture the 65kg gold.

Elor had a phenomenal season, becoming the first American to win three world titles in a single season.

The 19-year-old won U20 world gold in August and a senior-level world title in September, before capping off a historic year with a U23 world title in October, joining a rare list of wrestlers who won gold medals at every World Championships.

In Greco-Roman, Nazaryan extended his family tradition of excelling on the big stage.

Just 20 years old, the Bulgarian reached the European and World Championships finals this year and made it clear that he is ready for the big stage at such a young age.

His runs include wins over Olympic silver Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN), and European foes Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) and Erik TORBA (HUN).

While he fell short of crossing the final hurdle at both tournaments, Nazaryan has put his name in the hat at 60kg for the coming future.

#development

UWW, Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Wrestlers Shine at African Championships

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 12:34 By United World Wrestling Press

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ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 7) -- The African Championships in Alexandria, Egypt was another milestone in the United World Wrestling and Olympic Solidarity partnership.

U17, U20 and Senior African Championships were held from April 28 to May 2 and wrestlers with Olympic Solidarity scholarship shining on the mat. The tournament also saw participation of 143 wrestlers in the U17 age-group, making it one of the most highly participated U17 African Championships.

Recipients of the Olympic Solidarity scholarship won eight medals at the continental championships including two in Beach Wrestling.

The most successful wrestler was Kavelishimwe ABRAHAM (NAM) who won silver medal in the 59kg weight class of Women's Wrestling and then the same medal at 60kg in Beach Wrestling. Abraham also created history, becoming first-ever wrestler from Namibia to win silver in Women's Wrestling. She was also the first woman wrestler from Namibia to ever medal internationally when she won the silver medal at the U20 African Championships in 2023. She repeated in 2024 and last week she made history at the senior level.

Lec ANDE (CAF) also won a bronze medal in Women's Wrestling at 65kg. She later returned to Beach Wrestling in the same weight class.

Two more wrestlers won medals in Women's Wrestling. At the U20 level, Lynca NIYONKURU (BDI) won a bronze medal at 59kg while Foula KABA (GUI) managed to claim a silver medal at 57kg at the U17 level.

In Freestyle, Wotna NDOC (GBS) won a silver medal at 70kg while Raby BAPELEKIA (CGO) won a bronze medal at 65kg.