COVID-19

UWW-Africa Training Center Offers Update, Message of Solidarity

By United World Wrestling Press

EL JADIDA, Morocco (April 22) -- Athletes from the UWW-African training program were joined by coaches and administrators in offering an update from their facility in El Jadida. The video message was distributed on the United World Wrestling homepage and social media platforms.

"I wish for us to win this fight against caronavirus and get back to our normal life as soon as possible" said UWW-Africa president and bureau member Fouad MESKOUT. "Stay Healthy and Stay Safe!"

The training center is one of several that were created by United World Wrestling to help grow the sport in new areas of the world such as Central America, South America, and Africa.

#WrestleZagreb

Olympic champ Jamalov to miss 2025 World Championships

By Eric Olanowski

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (May 14) -- Paris Olympic champion Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) will miss the 2025 World Championships.

Jamalov told United World Wrestling that he will undergo knee surgery on May 19 in Moscow and will be sidelined for the rest of the 2025 season.

This is the second surgery for Jamalov in last eight months, and 10th of his career, as he also had a shoulder surgery shortly after his win in Paris in August 2024.

"This will be my fifth surgery on my knee," Jamalov told UWW. "I've also had three surgeries on both shoulders, one on my neck, and one for tonsils.

"This is very difficult news because I was hoping to be ready for the 2025 World Championships. It's an old injury that I suffered before the Ranking Series tournament in Hungary [last year]. It's a complete tear of the cruciate ligament."

Despite the physical and mental toll of ten surgeries, the 26-year-old is gearing up for the wrestling season in 2026.

"Even after 10 surgeries, I want to keep wrestling," he said. "I'm aiming to be back in action at the beginning of 2026. Without wrestling, life feels boring to me. Of course, there are doubts sometimes, but I try to work hard and keep believing."