Why it matters:
Iran’s strong performance in the preliminary rounds of the World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships shows the country’s continued prominence in the sport, especially wrestling, and sets the stage for potential medals that boost national pride and global standing.
Key points:
- 55kg: Payam Ahmadi cruised through to the final after wins over opponents from Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Azerbaijan. He will face Lulua Vakhtang from Georgia in the final.
- 77kg: Alireza Abdvali will fight for the broze medal after a semifinal loss to world champion Malchas Amoyan from Armenia.
- 82kg: Gholamreza Farrokhi dominated opponents from China, Hungary, Switzerland, and Croatia to reach the final against Georgian competitor Gela Bolkvadze.
- 130kg: Amin Mirzazadeh secured his spot in the final after wins against Croatian, Finnish, and Chinese wrestlers; his final opponent will be Hungary’s Dariusz Witek.
What's next:
The medal bouts for these weight classes are scheduled for Friday at 19:30 local time. Iran’s medal prospects remain strong, with three finalists aiming for gold and one wrestler vying for bronze.
Go deeper:
Iran's National Freestyle Wrestling Team Becomes World Champion After 12 Years
Neda Sajjadi - ahmad shirzadian
