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International Freestyle Wrestling Takhti Cup:
Domestic rivalry settled as Zare’ gets a shot at redemption in Zagreb
All eyes were on the superheavyweight showdown in Isfahan, where two of the division’s finest international stars had their own reasons to go all out for a statement victory.
Ma’soumi, 20, was eager to build on his six world age-group titles in pursuit of the senior crown in September, though Thursday’s result now gives Zare’ a chance to redeem himself after last year’s final setback at the Paris Olympics by adding a third world gold to his medal hual.
There was little to separate the two wrestlers in the first period, with Zare’ taking a 1-0 lead at the break – after his opponent was cautioned for passivity – but the reigning world champion went on to clinch an impressive 8-2 victory, thanks to double takedowns and a gut-wrench.
“Amirreza is a top wrestler and a winner of several world golds in different age classes. I knew all about wrestling him as it was our fourth encounter in recent years. Thank God I prevailed in decisive moments of the contest to win the bout. I will just have to work hard and learn from my past mistakes to succeed at the World Championships,” said Zare’, who suffered a 10-9 loss to Georgian Geno Petriashvili in a thrilling Olympic final in Paris.
Meanwhile, Ali Mo’meni – a gold medalist in February’s Ranking Series event in Zagreb – is guaranteed a return to the Croatian capital after a 9-4 victory over Milad Valizadeh in the 57kg final.
Joining Mo’meni and Zare’ in the Iranian 10-man squad are Ahmad Mohammadnejad-Javan, Rahman Amouzad, and Amirhossein Firouzpour.
Mohammadnejad-Javan will be the Iranian 61kg wrestler at the world event, thanks to a gold-winning run at the Zagreb Open and an Asian bronze in March.
Amouzad, an Olympic silver medalist last year, has been given a shot at a second world 65kg gold after domestic rivals Yassin Rezaei and Ali Khorramdel had below-par runs at the Ranking Series season-opener in February.
Firouzpour’s impressive run of results in recent months, which has seen him win the Asian and Zagreb Open titles, convinced the Iranian coaching staff to pick him for the world 92kg contests.
Elsewhere in Isfahan, Reza Mo’meni settled for a 61kg silver following a 4-3 loss to Bekzat Almaz Uulu of Kyrgyzstan, while Yassin Rezaei suffered a criteria defeat (11-11) to Indian Jaskaran Singh in the 65kg final.
Russian Dalgat Abdulkadyrov came out on top against Iranian Mohammadali Amouzad by fall for the 70kg title.
Two-time world silver medalist Amir-Mohammad Yazdani put a lid on a dreadful run of late by claiming a 7-4 win against fellow-Iranian Younes Emami – a winner of two world bronzes – in the 74kg final.
The two will have to meet again in the coming months to decide who will represent the country at the World Championships.
Fariborz Babaei pulled off a stunning 5-3 victory over Asian champion Mahdi Yousefi in the 79kg final, though he will still have to see off four-time world medalist Mohammad Nokhodi for a place in the UWW Worlds.
Abolfazl Rahmani made the most of Kamran Qassempour’s absence – who was ruled out of the event with a positive Covid test result – and beat Amirhossein Kavousi 7-1 for the 86kg gold.
Mohammad-Mobin Azimi beat Behnam Sarabi 5-2 in the 92kg final, while Ahmad Bazri came out victorious (3-1) against Abolfazl Babalou in the 97kg showdown.
Bazri will still face a tough task to secure a world spot as he will have to succeed in a Ranking Series event in May or July to get a head-to-head with Amir-Ali Azarpira, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since winning an Olympic bronze last summer, for the Zagreb ticket.