Freestyle Wrestling National Championships:
Contenders emerge for place in Iranian squad
The opening phase of the Iranian trials for the World Championships came to an end with the conclusion of the Freestyle Wrestling National Championships on Friday, where 10 wrestlers made their case for a place in the September event in Zagreb, Croatia.
Former world junior and under-23 bronze medalist Ahmad Mohammadnejad Javan will be looking to go all they way to punch his ticket for the Croatian capital after walking away with the ultimate prize in the 61kg contests, thanks to a 4-2 victory over Ali Qolizadegan in the final.
Ebrahim Elahi, a world under-17 gold medalist in 2022, was in a 70kg league of his own, conceding a single point in five bouts en route to the final before a 6-1 win against Ali-Akbar Fazli for the top spot.
Fariborz Babaei stole the show in the 79kg event, defeating former world junior champion Erfan Elahi 3-2 in the final showpiece.
Mohammad-Mobin Azimi, a world U23 gold medalist in 2023, introduced himself as a top contender for the national team berth following his technical-superiority win against Fazel Pour-Rajab the 92kg showdown.
The 125kg final saw Mahdi Hashemi beat Morteza Jan-Mohammadzadeh 6-2 for the national gold, though it is hard to imagine anyone other than two-time world champion and Olympic silver winner Amirhossein Zare’ as the Iranian superheavyweight in Zagreb.
Friday’s results came after Mojtaba Goleij had showcased his credentials for a shot at world 97kg glory on the preceding night in Gorgan.
A world bronze winner in 2021, Goleij defeated reigning Asian under-20 champion Abolfazl Babalou 6-0 in the final to throw down the gauntlet to Olympic bronze medalist Amirali Azarpira and two-time world 92kg champion Kamran Qassempour, who is keen on competing in an Olympic weight class ahead of the Los Angeles Games in three years’ time.
Hadi Rezaei looked to be the favorite for the 57kg title after a massive 7-3 victory over former world silver medalist Alireza Sarlak in the semifinals, but ultimately suffered a 7-1 loss to 20-year-old Milad Valizadeh in the final.
Yassin Rezaei capped off his dominant 65kg campaign with a 13-2 win against Dariush Hazratqolizadeh in the final – a fifth victory by technical superiority for the 2023 Asian bronze winner in as many bouts.
Hossein Abouzari finished atop the podium in the 74kg class, courtesy of a 7-2 win against Hossein Mohammad-Aqaei, while the 86kg showdown saw Omidreza Soheili come out victorious (10-2) in emphatic fashion against Mohammad-Hossein Norouzian.