The Women in Wrestling Global Forum 2025 took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 7 to 11 October, bringing together more than 34 women leaders, athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators from 21 countries. Hosted by the Mongolian Wrestling Federation and the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, this fifth edition of the Forum embodied the spirit of collaboration and progress that defines United World Wrestling’s global development strategy. The Forum officially opened with welcoming remarks from representatives of the Mongolian Wrestling Federation and the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, including the NOC First Vice-President Mr. Choijgavaa Naranbaatar.

Over four days, the Forum offered a dynamic combination of leadership sessions, practical workshops, and cultural experiences. Guided by UWW Development Director Ms. Deqa Niamkey and educators Mr. Rafael Galvá and Ms. Edit Dozsa, participants explored key topics such as stakeholder engagement, communication styles, sustainability, coaching strategies, and athlete safety. The opening session reflected the support of United World Wrestling’s leadership, represented by both female UWW Vice-President Ms. Natalia Yariguina and Ms. Rodica Yaksi, Bureau Members, and the Development Department Team, who highlighted the Federation’s ongoing commitment to gender equality and leadership education.

Throughout the program, participants were inspired by a series of powerful testimonies and personal journeys. Mariana Díaz Muñoz of Mexico and Marina Rueda Flores of Spain presented “Luchadoras de Iberoamérica,” a joint project promoting female empowerment in sport, while Olympic medalist Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan shared her journey from national pioneer to global champion. Other sessions featured Narine Karapetyan from Uzbekistan and Lorena Kayzer from Brazil, who highlighted the impact of women’s leadership within their federations. These stories, rich with passion and perseverance, showed how wrestling can unite people across continents through shared purpose and mutual respect.

Participants experienced Mongolia’s deep wrestling heritage through visits to the Chinggis Khaan Museum and cultural activities organized by the Mongolian Wrestling Federation. These moments outside the conference room added depth and emotion to the experience—participants learned, laughed, and discovered together. Beyond the sessions and speeches, they built genuine friendships and a global network of women committed to moving wrestling forward.