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IranCrowned World Freestyle Wrestling Champion

Iran Ends 12-Year Drought, Crowned World Freestyle Wrestling Champion

Iran’s national freestyle wrestling team has claimed the world championship title for the sixth time in history, ending a 12-year wait since its last global triumph.

Tehran - BORNA - Iran’s national freestyle wrestling team has claimed the world championship title for the sixth time in history, ending a 12-year wait since its last global triumph.

At the conclusion of the eight weight categories of the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, Team Iran secured one gold, one silver, and three bronze medals to finish ahead of the United States and clinch the title with one day of competition still remaining.

Amirhossein Zareh captured gold in the 125kg category, Ahmad Mohammadnejad-Javan won silver at 61kg, while Mohammad Nokhodi (79kg), Kamran Ghasempour (86kg), and Amirhossein Firoozpour (92kg) each earned bronze medals.

Iran will also have two finalists competing on Tuesday night, as Rahman Amouzad (65kg) and Amirali Azarpira (97kg) wrestle for gold in the final two weight classes.

This marks Iran’s sixth world freestyle wrestling team title, with previous championships won in 1961, 1965, 1998, 2002, and 2013. The last victory came 12 years ago in Budapest, Hungary.

Over its history, Iran has also finished runner-up nine times—in 1971, 1973, 1995, 2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2022, and 2023—and placed third on 14 occasions.

The Soviet Union, later competing as Russia, remains the most decorated team in freestyle wrestling history with 35 world titles. Iran now ranks second with six championships, ahead of the United States and Turkey, who have each won five titles.

Notably, Iran did not participate in four editions of the World Championships: San Diego (1979), Kiev (1983, then USSR), Budapest (1986), and Clermont-Ferrand (1987).

https://borna.news/en/news/1117/iran-ends-12-year-drought-crowned-world-freestyle-wrestling-champion