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U23 Wrestling World Championships:
Iran’s Azimi strikes gold in freestyle 92kg
The young Iranian scored three stepout points to defeat Russian Takhir Khaniev – competing as a neutral athlete – 5-3 in the 92kg final, adding the under-23 crown to his 2023 world junior gold medal.
“It was a tough battle against a very strong opponent. Fortunately, the gameplan from my coaching staff worked perfectly and help me win the final,” Azimi said after his final victory.
“I really wanted this medal. I had already won a world under-20 gold and I’m glad to have added this one to my achievements,” added the Iranian, who also won a 97kg bronze medal at the Asian Senior Championships in March.
Azimi said he would now set his sights on capturing the ultimate prize at the Senior Worlds, adding: “I think my junior and under-23 titles have laid the groundwork to achieve that goal.”
Azimi enjoyed an emphatic run toward the final showpiece, starting his campaign with a 7-1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Sherzod Poyonov, before outmuscling Sadig Mustafazadeh 8-0 in the last 16.
The Iranian then cruised to superiority wins against American Joshua Joseph Bar (13-3) and Ivan Chornohuz (12-1) of Ukraine to set a final clash with Khaniev.
Mohammad Bakhshi was the other Iranian in action across the two freestyle events on Saturday, but finished empty-handed in the 74kg category.
Bakhshi came out on top against France’s Seyfulla Itaev (5-0) and Uzbek wrestler Jafar Chuliboyev (11-4), before suffering a 11-0 loss to reigning world senior champion Yoshinosuke Aoyagi in the quarterfinals. The Iranian was denied a second chance for a medal in repechage after the Japanese was stunned 7-4 by American Mitchell Mesenbrink, who went on to claim the gold medal.
Having already claimed five world team titles across different age groups in 2025 – including the senior double last month – is aiming to cap a glittering international season by completing a clean sweep of the men’s under-23 trophies for the second year in a row.
The Iranian 10-man squad bagged six medals, including triple golds, in the Greco-Roman event in Novi Sad last week, finishing atop the standings in with 143 points – 47 clear of second-placed Ukraine.
Iman Mohammadi (72kg), Gholamreza Farrokhi (87kg), and Fardin Hedayati (130kg) were the Iranian Greco-Roman gold medalists, while Sajjad Abbaspour settled for silver in 60kg.
Ahmadreza Mohsennejad (67kg) and Abolfazl Mohmadi (82kg), meanwhile, finished with consolation bronzes in their respective divisions.