Mohammad Reza Talaghani, President of the Iranian Wrestling Federation: We Love the People of the World - 2003-09-12

Mohammad Reza Talaghani, the President of the Iranian Wrestling Federation, stated that the Iranian national freestyle wrestling team, which is in New York for the World Championship, visited Ground Zero on the second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks to pay their respects to the victims by laying a wreath. Talaghani laid a bouquet on behalf of the wrestlers and declared a minute of silence in honor of the September 11 victims. He expressed, 'We declare our sympathy and solidarity in this tragic incident.' Talaghani added, 'Iranians are good people and love all the people of the world.' In response to a journalist's question about whether he thinks the match between Iran and the USA could serve as a bridge to establish relations between the two countries, he said, 'We love the people of the world and as a human, we declare our sympathy and solidarity.' Additionally, September 11, the day before the World Championship begins, is the weigh-in day for the wrestlers. The Iranian national team has been strictly following a diet since their arrival in the USA to lose weight. According to the President of the Iranian Wrestling Federation, the national wrestling team does not have serious weight issues. The draw on Thursday night determined the opponents for the Iranian wrestlers as follows: Mohammad Aslani at 55 kg with an Armenian wrestler, Mohammad Talai at 60 kg with an American, Ali Dabir at 66 kg with a Bulgarian, Hadi Habibi at 74 kg with an American, Majid Khodai at 84 kg with an American, Alireza Heydari at 96 kg with a Dutch wrestler, and Alireza Rezaei at 120 kg with a Turkish wrestler. Thus, the Iranian wrestlers will face three American wrestlers in the first round of the competition. A key match in the first round will be between Alireza Dabir, a world and Olympic champion, and the Bulgarian wrestler, who is considered one of his toughest opponents.