Iran’s Wrestling, Indisputable Power Of Asia

Tehran, Feb 26, IRNA – Iran’s wrestling teams shined in both the Greco-Roman and free styles in the Asia Wrestling Champions held in South Korea last week. True that Iran won the wrestling championship for the eighth time in Greco-Roman category and for the 21st time in free style category in South Korea, most of analysts believe that the delegation dispatched to the country scored other major successes by holding talks with the high ranking officials of FILA as well as Asia Wrestling Council. Studies carried out reveal that Iran's new management in wrestling federatrion pursued two different goals in Asia Wrestling Championship 2012. First was winning meddles and the other was holding talks with international wrestling officials to promote communications with them. It was successful in both fields. Experts believe that forging logical communications and holding target-oriented sessions with FILA Head Rafael Martinetti as well as the other high-ranking officials were more significant than gaining the championship title. Diplomacy exercised by the Iranian delegation in South Korea conveyed a message that Iran, in addition to winning meddles, is also seeking to regain its lost status in the world wrestling decision-making centers. On the other hand, Martinetti’s friendly attitude towards the Iranian delegation revealed that despite changes in the top brasses of Iran’s Wrestling Federation, it is still hopeful for new round of cooperation with FILA. Presence of renowned wrestlers such as Rasoul Khadem, Ali Reza Soleimani and Ali Reza Reazei attracted the attention of FILA and Asia Wrestling Council, as Martinetti expressed pleasure with the involvement of such persons in Iran’s wrestling and welcomed their re-entry in the international wrestling community. Interesting to find that during the session there was no word of suspension of Iran’s federation and the discussion revolved around Iran’s strong presence in future events and 2012 Olympic Games in London. The main point is that the competitions in South Korea revealed that Iran will strongly compete in both fields of wrestling and diplomacy. If this trend continues, one can hope that FILA and Asia Wrestling Council will give it back a sensitive position in decision-making centers. Iran as an indisputable power in the Asian wrestling has actually no remarkable position in the main international centers and to gain this, it should compete with the Asian states with poor performance in the field of wrestling. Presence of athletes such as Rasoul Khadem, former world champion of free-style wrestling and Olympic as the director of national teams, alongside Mohammad Banna, chief coach of the national teams, has added to the capabilities of the Iranian team. Given the potentials demonstrated by Iran’s wrestling teams in South Korea, the country can win meddles and regain its status in the major international decision-making centers./end