ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Nenad Lalovic has been re-elected as President of United World Wrestling (UWW) for another six-year term, extending his leadership of the international wrestling governing body until 2032.
Lalovic secured a unanimous victory at the UWW Ordinary Congress held on Thursday in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the World Championships.
Although no other candidate contested the presidency, the election proceeded, with Lalovic receiving all 140 votes cast in his favour.
In his remarks, Lalovic expressed appreciation to the national federations and members of the UWW Bureau for their confidence and support, pledging to work collaboratively to advance the interests of wrestling and its athletes.
“If we keep the athlete at the center, protect our values, embrace innovation with purpose, and bring fans closer to the mat, then wrestling’s best days can still lie ahead,” he said.
The re-elected president also highlighted the importance of aligning the federation’s activities with its six-year strategic plan for 2026–2032.
He identified grassroots development, increased opportunities for women, improved digital engagement, sustainable events and stronger commercial partnerships as key priorities for the coming years.
“We need stronger grassroots development, more opportunities for women, better digital engagement, sustainable events, and commercial partnerships that create lasting value,” Lalovic said.
He challenged stakeholders to take an active role in shaping the sport’s future, asking: “The question is not what the future of wrestling will look like. The real question is, what future do we want to build? Are we brave enough to build it?”
Meanwhile, the Ordinary Congress also conducted elections for six positions on the UWW Bureau, with four incumbent members retaining their seats and two new members joining the governing body.
Fouad Meskout of Morocco, a UWW Bureau member and President of the UWW Africa Council, was re-elected for another six-year term. Francisco Lee Lopez of Guatemala, President of the Pan-American Council, also secured re-election.
Other incumbents who retained their positions were Don Ryan of Canada and Ye Zhang of China, both of whom will serve new six-year terms.
The two newly elected Bureau members are Yerkin Okassov of Kazakhstan and Vladimir Bregovic of Croatia. Both will also serve six-year terms.
The elections mark the beginning of a new leadership cycle for United World Wrestling as it pursues its 2026–2032 strategic objectives, with a focus on athlete development, gender inclusion, innovation and the long-term growth of the sport worldwide.
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