The first in 2012, this tournament actually sums up the result of the tournaments of the past year, because it admits only 16 strongest wrestlers of the world in each weight category. The World Masters brought together nine Olympic champions and 25 world champions in different years from 44 countries in the southern capital of Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan was represented by Rishod Sobirov (60 kg), Navruz Jurakobilov (73), Dilshod Choriev and Khurshid Nabiev (both under 90 kg), Ramziddin Saidov (100) and Abdullah Tangriev (over 100 kg).

In Almaty, Sobirov, who last fall had surgery on an injured right hand and some time missed training, couldn’t fight in full strength: having reached the final after wins over Jeroen Mooren (NED), Erkebulan Kossaev (KAZ) and Beslan Mudranov (RUS), he fought for the gold against another Russian Arsen Galstyan. Nevertheless, he retained the position on the top of the world ranking. However, he is be in his best shape, like his teammates, by the Olympic tournament in London.

Bronze medalist of the last World Championship Navruz Jurakobilov, this time stopped one step short of the podium in the weight category up to 73 kg.