Sportsupdated 2h ago2 min read
Iran Wins U23 Freestyle Team Title in Las Vegas With Four Gold Medals
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Iran topped freestyle standings with 180 points to win the U23 World Team title. Iran secured four freestyle gold medals at the Las Vegas event.
Iran tops U23 freestyle
Iran’s U23 freestyle team won the team title at the U23 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, United States, finishing with 180 points ahead of Russia’s 171 and the host United States’ 104. Ahora Khateri delivered a comeback in the 65kg final, recovering from a 6-1 deficit to defeat Japan’s Kaiji Ogino 7-6 after scoring six points in the final 40 seconds. Mahdi Yousefi then strengthened Iran’s position by defeating Russia’s Said Saidulov 3-1 in the 79kg final, helping secure the championship for the Iranian squad.
Abolfazl Rahmani defeated Russia’s Arslan Bagaev 5-2 in the 92kg final, and Abolfazl Mohammadnejad secured the 125kg title with a 10-0 victory over Georgia’s Aleksandre Abramishvili. United World Wrestling described the 65kg final as a turnaround, saying Khateri “pulled off a remarkable turnaround in the 65kg final to win the gold medal”.
Officials hail the win
Iran’s Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali congratulated the national freestyle team, saying the achievement had brought joy and pride to the Iranian people. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian congratulated the Iranian wrestlers on their world championship victory, calling the titles won by both the freestyle and Greco-Roman teams a testament to the country’s potential to achieve “bigger” success in sports. Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the under-23 freestyle team’s victory was “not a mere sporting achievement but rather it was a manifestation of the strength of a nation whose sons can command the world’s respect in every field.”
IRGC chief Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Ahmad Vahidi said the victory was a “clear response” to the country’s adversaries and a testament to the firm determination of its young generation. Alireza Dabir, head of the Iranian Wrestling Federation, welcomed the result on X with the message: “Congratulations to the Iranian people on the championship on American soil.”
Medals, standings, and momentum
Pars Today said Iran claimed the world championship title in the United States in dominant fashion, winning nine medals across all three colors. Pars Today reported that Iran secured four gold medals, one silver and four bronze, with Ahoura Khateri winning gold in the 65kg category and Mehdi Yousefi winning gold in the 79kg category. Tehran Times said Iran won a total of nine medals in Las Vegas, including four gold medals, and it placed the United States third with 104 points behind Iran’s 180 and Russia’s 171.
United World Wrestling listed the 65kg final result as Ahora KHATERI (IRI) defeating Kaiji OGINO (JPN) 7-6, and it listed the 79kg final as Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) defeating Said SAIDULOV (RUS) 3-1. Tehran Times also said the gold medal would come as a relief for Khateri, who captured his first world title since 2023, when he won the U17 world title at 45kg.