Iranian Wrestling Stars Set for Pivotal Matches on Day Three of World Championships
ZAGREB – The third day of the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, is set to feature a formidable lineup of Iranian athletes, highlighting the nation’s continued strength and prowess in the sport on the international stage.
Top Contenders Enter the Fray
The day’s action commences at 12:00 PM Tehran time, with two of Iran’s most decorated freestyle wrestlers making their highly anticipated tournament debut. Rahman Amouzad, a reigning World Champion and Olympic silver medalist, will compete in the 65kg category. He is joined by Amirali Azarpira, an Olympic bronze medalist, who will contend in the 97kg weight class. Their participation underscores Iran’s deep roster of world-class talent.
Evening Medal Matches Feature Three Iranians
Later in the evening session, three further Iranian athletes will compete for bronze medals, showcasing the team’s depth. Younes Emami (74kg), Mohammad Nokhodi (79kg), and Amirhossein Firouzpour (92kg) will all step onto the mat with the goal of securing a place on the podium for the Iranian team.
Detailed Schedule of Events
The competition schedule for Monday, September 15, 2025, is as follows:
- 12:00 – 15:30 (Tehran Time): Repechage matches for the 74kg category (Emami) and the preliminary rounds for the 65kg and 97kg weight classes (Amouzad and Azarpira).
- 18:00 – 19:00: Semi-final matches for the 65kg and 97kg categories.
- 19:30 – 21:30: Final and bronze medal matches for the 57kg, 74kg, 79kg, and 92kg freestyle divisions (featuring Emami, Nokhodi, and Firouzpour).
Path to the Podium
In the 65kg bracket, Rahman Amouzad Khalili receives a first-round bye. His campaign begins in the second round against Ikromjon Khodjaev Muratov of Kyrgyzstan. A victory would see him advance to face the winner of the match between American rival Real Woods and Maxim Sacultan of Moldova. Notably, the reigning Olympic champion from Japan is positioned on the opposite side of the draw, preventing a potential meeting with the Iranian champion until the final match.
In the 97kg division, Amirali Azarpira begins his quest in the first round against Ganhuyag Ganbat of Mongolia. A win would advance him to a match against the victor of the bout between Radu Lefter of Moldova and Ahmed Magamaev of Bulgaria. The bracket places Olympic and World champion from Bahrain in the same half as Azarpira, though a potential clash would not occur until the semi-final stage. A possible quarter-final encounter with a wrestler from Azerbaijan also presents a significant challenge on the path to gold.
