Obituary

Georgia's Nugzari Tsurtsumia, 2019 world champion, dies at 27

Thursday, July 4, 2024 - 10:59 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 3) -- Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), a 2019 world champion, passed away Wednesday at the age of 27 years in his hometown Khobi, Georgia. The young star's death has left United World Wrestling and the entire wrestling community saddened.

The 27-year-old recently competed at the Budapest Ranking Series in June and won a bronze medal in the Greco-Roman 55kg weight class, the same weight he has won two silver and two bronze medals at the World Championships. Apart from the five medals at the World Championships, Tsurtsumia also won four at the European Championships -- a silver and three bronzes.

At the age group level, Tsurtsumia accomplished much. He completed the set of medals at the European Championships, winning bronze at the U17 level, gold and two bronzes at the U20 and two golds at the U23 level.

In the age-group World Championships, Tsurtsumia was the U23 world champion in 2018 and a silver and bronze medalist at the U20 level.

His remarkable achievement came in Nursultan at the 2019 World Championships when he rocked the field to become the world champion. He outscored his opponents 34-3 in four bouts to win the gold, Georgia's first at the World Championships in 12 years.

United World Wrestling, Georgian Wrestling Federation and the wrestling community mourns the death of an incredible talent. Their thoughts are with the Tsurtsumia family in their time of grief.

Rabah Chebbah, President of the Algerian Wrestling Federation, Dies at 55

Monday, December 14, 2020 - 15:10 By United World Wrestling Press

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Rabah CHEBBAH, President of the Algerian Wrestling Federation and Treasurer of the Algerian NOC, passed away due to COVID-19. He was 55 years old. 

Mr. Chebbah was considered by his colleagues and sports executives as the linchpin of the Algerian sports movement.

He began his career as the technical director of the wilaya at the level of the Algiers wrestling league, before occupying the positions of DTN and national trainer of Greco-Roman wrestling. 

"We are very saddened to learn of Mr. Chebbah's passing," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. "He was passionate about wrestling in his country and a great supporter of our initiatives and progress. We send our condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed."

In recent years Mr. Chebbah had also taken on the role of Treasurer of the Algerian NOC where he was well-liked and admired.

"Myself and the members of the Executive Committee as well as the staff of the Algerian Olympic Committee are devastated and sad by the death of Rabah Chebbah," said COA President Abderrahmane HAMMAD. "It is a great loss for the Algerian sports movement. I knew it when I was an athlete. I want to wish his children and his family all the best."

Mr. Chebbah was buried in the cemetery of Oued Romane (Algiers).