Iran's freestyle wrestling team secured third place at the 2026 Astana World Championship with a total of 133 points, winning two gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals. In this competition, the United States became the champion with 194 points, while Russia claimed the second place with 185 points.
Medal Achievement and Ranking Drop
At the end of the 2026 World Freestyle Wrestling Championship held in Astana, Kazakhstan, Iran was unable to maintain last year's championship title and finished third with 6 medals and 133 points, behind the United States and Russia. Iran participated with 10 wrestlers in this competition, and 6 of them managed to win medals, reflecting a 60% medal-winning rate. Among them, Ahmad Mohammad Nakhodizadeh in the 61 kg weight category and Amir Hossein Zareh in the 125 kg category won gold medals.
Mohammad Nakhodi won silver in the 79 kg category, while Rahman Amouzad in the 65 kg category, Amir Mohammad Yazdani in the 74 kg category, and Hassan Yazdani in the 97 kg category secured bronze medals. This comes as Iran has seen a decrease of 2 medals and 12 points compared to last year. In 2025, Iran had won 2 golds, 2 silvers, and 3 bronzes with 145 points.
Significant Events and Future Outlook
The championship of Mohammad Nakhodizadeh is considered one of the most important events of this period. He had lost in the finals last year, and by converting his silver into gold this time, he demonstrated his high capability once again. Additionally, Amir Hossein Zareh became the world champion again in the 125 kg category, showcasing Iran's strength in the heavyweight division.
Hassan Yazdani, the team captain, stood on the podium again after two years away from competitions and changing weight to 97 kg. However, his bronze medal did not meet the expectations of fans. Amir Mohammad Yazdani and Mohammad Nakhodi also succeeded in winning medals in their respective weights, indicating the presence of experienced wrestlers in the team.
However, some wrestlers such as Kamran Qasempoor in the 86 kg category and Milad Valizadeh in the 57 kg category were unable to win medals. Additionally, Sina Khalili in the 70 kg category and Amir Hossein Firoozpour in the 92 kg category did not perform well. These results highlight the need for a review of competition management and technical planning.
Despite winning two golds and retaining some prominent figures, the 61-point gap with the United States indicates changes in the competition and the need to strengthen the team. To return to the top of the table, Iran must increase the number of medal contenders, strengthen weak weight categories, and properly nurture the next generation.
