World Nomad Games 2026:
Taghani wins Pahlevani wrestling gold as Iran bags two medals
Mostafa Taghani headlined Iran’s two-medal haul on the fifth day of the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan by grabbing gold in Pahlevani wrestling on Saturday.
Taghani defeated the host’s Seytek Dogdurbek Uulu by pin in the final of the +90kg class, with Mongolia’s Bat-Orshikh Batsuuri settling for bronze.
Taghani’s compatriot Mersad Shokri, meanwhile, secured a bronze medal in Kurash after defeating his Turkmen opponent 5-4 in the third-place playoff.
The two medals took Iran’s tally to 15 – including four golds – at the sixth edition of the multi-sport event, which is dedicated to traditional ethnic sports practiced across Central Asia.
Mostafa Najafi claimed the top prize in the men’s +100kg Güləş event – a traditional Azerbaijani/Turkic form of belt wrestling – on Friday, thanks to a 6-1 victory over his Azerbaijani opponent.
Sajjad Soltaninejad won the Strongman title, finishing atop the standings after three days of grueling competition and successfully negotiating a series of demanding and heavy events.
Meanwhile, Reza Qeitasi, Iran’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, won gold in the men’s Tayak Tartysh on Wednesday, securing the first gold medal for the country’s 130-athlete delegation.