Amirhossein Zareh is preparing to participate in the World Wrestling Championships in the 125 kg weight class, aiming for his fourth world title after winning gold at the Asian Games; a goal that will be challenging due to the presence of several prominent competitors.
Zareh's Experience in Major Competitions
Zareh, who previously won gold medals at the World Championships in 2021, 2022, and 2025, has become one of the main figures in the heavyweight category of world wrestling in recent years. He won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, establishing an illustrious record in major competitions.
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Zareh's Tough Rivals
Among the contenders in the 125 kg weight class, names such as Giorgi Mshvildadze from Azerbaijan, Shamil Sharipov from Bahrain, and Robert Baran from Poland are noted, all of whom stood on the podium at the 2025 World Championships and could be serious competitors for the Iranian representative.
Mshvildadze is considered Zareh's main rival on this list. He lost to Zareh in the final of the 2025 World Championships with a score of 5-0, earning a silver medal. This wrestler had previously reached the final by defeating Robert Baran in the semifinals. His experience in the world final and understanding of Zareh's wrestling style make him one of the main contenders in this weight class.
Sharipov, who won a bronze medal at the last World Championships, lost to Zareh in the semifinals with a score of 7-3. He also reached the final at the 2026 Asian Championships, facing the Iranian representative. Therefore, the possibility of a rematch between these two wrestlers at the World Championships is a noteworthy aspect of this weight class.
Robert Baran from Poland is another contender in this weight class, having won a bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships. He lost to Mshvildadze in the semifinals but secured a podium finish by defeating Vladislav Baisayev in the bronze medal match. Baisayev, who finished fifth in that competition, is considered an experienced heavyweight wrestler in Europe and could pose challenges for the contenders.
Wyatt Hendrickson from the USA and Khurmyankov are also among the names present in this weight class. Hendrickson became the champion of American collegiate wrestling in 2025 but did not medal at the senior World Championships that same year. Nevertheless, his presence among the heavyweights is significant, and he cannot be considered an easy opponent.
Zareh showcased his abilities again in 2026 by winning gold at the Asian Championships and then at the Asian Games in Nagoya. He overcame various opponents to reach the gold medal in the Asian Games, defeating Yedige Kasymbek from Kazakhstan in the final seconds of the semifinals.
Now, the Iranian heavyweight is preparing for the World Championships in Kazakhstan, boasting three world championships and Olympic medals in his record. Mshvildadze, Kasymbek, Sharipov, and Baran are his main rivals.
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