Uzbekistan Wins First Greco-Roman World Title in Over Two Decades

Uzbek wrestler Aytzhan Khalmakhanov has written his name into the country’s sporting history, claiming gold at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. Competing in the 63 kg division, the 19-year-old defeated South Korea’s Chung Han-jae in the final bout.

The result ends a 24-year wait for Uzbekistan to see one of its athletes crowned world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Uzbekistan’s national team also added to its medal tally in other weight categories. In Greco-Roman wrestling, Alisher Ganiev (60 kg) earned silver, while Abdullo Aliyev (72 kg) took bronze. In freestyle events, Gulomjon Abdullaev (57 kg) and Umidjon Jalolov (65 kg) both secured bronze medals.

Khalmakhanov has been regarded as one of the country’s rising stars, having already won two youth world titles at the U20 level in Rome and Samokov, Bulgaria.

As a team, Uzbekistan finished third overall in Greco-Roman wrestling with 72 points, trailing Iran and Azerbaijan. In freestyle, the squad ranked ninth, on par with Mongolia and Ukraine.