Yazdani, Azarpira learn selection process for Wrestling Worlds
Hassan Yazdani and Amirali Azarpira are set to feature in a highly-anticipated domestic rivalry as the Iranian Wrestling Federation unveiled the freestyle 97kg selection process for October’s World Championships in Manama, Bahrain.
A winner of a national-record 10 major medals, Yazdani will have to compete at the season-opening Ranking Series event – the Zagreb Open – in February to enter the selection cycle, according to the national governing body.
The two wrestlers will then participate at the International Takhti Cup – hosted by Iran – later, where they will have to come out victorious in a best-of-three series, should they go head-to-head in the competition, to secure a place in the world event.
A gold medal at the Takhti Cup, even without facing Yazdani, will be enough for Azarpira to punch his Manama ticket, the Iranian federation confirmed.
If Azarpira is knocked out of the Takhti Cup before locking horns with Yazdani, he will be given a second chance against his compatriot in a future event, added the federation.
Freestyle sensation Yazdani made a statement return to action during the final day of the Iranian Wrestling Premier League in December, having been sidelined for 489 days after undergoing surgery on his injured shoulder, which cost him the 86kg final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Moving up to the 97kg class in a bid to win an elusive second Olympic gold at Los Angeles 2028, Yazdani claimed a superiority win (10-0) over former U20 world champion Abolfazl Babloo, and then defeated 2021 world bronze medalist Mojtaba Goleij 4-0 in the penultimate bout of the final, though his Esteghlal Juybar team ultimately fell short against Bank Shahr.
At 30, Yazdani appeared to be back to his familiar ruthless form, but before thinking of chasing his fourth world title in a star-studded 97kg event – likely to feature Russian great Abdulrashid Sadulaev, American world champion Kyle Snyder, and Olympic gold medalist Akhmed Tazhudinov – in Manama, he will have to see off a domestic threat posed by 23-year-old Azarpira.
The two-time U23 world champion marked his Olympic debut with a precious bronze medal in Paris, thanks to another victory over Snyder in the third-place bout, and then built on that success by winning a silver medal at last September’s World Championships in Zagreb.
The pinnacle of Azarpira’s campaign in the Croatian capital came in the semifinals, where he defeated Tazhudinov 5-2, making up for his first-round setback against the Bahraini wrestler in Paris.
Azarpira was unlucky to miss out on the top podium after a final setback against Snyder, but captured his maiden senior gold at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh a month later.