Iran's Freestyle Wrestling Team Crowned 2024 Asian Champions with Five Golds, Three Bronzes, and 190 Points

The Iranian national freestyle wrestling team became the champion of the 2024 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, securing five gold medals from Rahman Amouzad Khalili in the 65 kg category, Amir Mohammad Yazdani in the 70 kg category, Mohammad Nakhodi in the 79 kg category, Amir Hossein Firouzpour in the 92 kg category, and Amir Hossein Zare in the 125 kg category, along with three bronze medals from Hossein Aboudari in the 74 kg category, Hadi Vafaei Pour in the 86 kg category, and Mohammad Hossein Mohammadian in the 97 kg category, and two fifth places from Ebrahim Khavari and Reza Atri in the 57 kg and 61 kg categories, respectively, totaling 190 points. Amir Hossein Zare, a world heavyweight champion, achieved his fifth gold medal for Iran by winning three consecutive matches after a bye in the first round. Amir Hossein Firouzpour, who holds youth and senior world gold medals, reached the final in the 92 kg category and secured the fourth gold medal for Iran by defeating Shershod Poyunov from Uzbekistan. Hadi Vafaei Pour, who previously had a promising start, settled for bronze after losing to Kazakhstan's Azamat Dulatbekov. Reza Atri, a silver medalist at the world level, unfortunately, did not win a medal in the 61 kg category after losing in the semifinals. The Iranian team finished first in the team rankings, followed by Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. This championship comes shortly after the resignation of coach Ehsan Lashgari, which had drawn criticism due to the absence of a bronze medalist from previous competitions. The Iranian freestyle wrestling team aims to build on this success for future competitions.