Iran’s Zare and Nokhodi strike gold in Asian Games freestyle wrestling

Iran won two gold medals in men’s freestyle wrestling at the 2026 Asian Games, with Amir Hossein Zare triumphing at 125kg and Mohammad Nokhodi defeating Japan’s Hayato Ishiguro to claim the 86kg title.

Nokhodi, a world silver medalist, completed his run to the title with a 9-6 victory over Ishiguro on Friday, the 2025 world silver medalist at 86kg.

The Iranian had reached the final with three wins. He opened with an 11-0 technical-superiority victory over Palestine’s Rayyan Aburiala, followed by an 11-1 win over South Korea’s Lee Gyeongyeon. He then beat Kyrgyzstan’s Malik Shavaev 3-0 in the semifinals.

For Nokhodi, the victory marked a significant achievement after moving up from 79kg to compete at 86kg.

Speaking after receiving the gold, Nokhodi thanked those who had supported him and the Iranian public for their prayers.

Nokhodi said his previous experience competing at 86kg had helped him adjust to the category in Nagoya. He had wrestled at the weight class at a ranking event in Mongolia two or three months earlier, giving him some familiarity with its demands, although he noted that training and competition were different.

Looking ahead to the World Championships in about a month, Nokhodi said he hoped Iran's wrestlers could once again give their supporters reason to celebrate.

Zare also produced a dominant campaign at 125kg. The world champion and defending Asian Games champion opened with a 10-0 win over Japan’s Taiki Yamamoto.

He followed it with an 11-0 technical-superiority victory over Turkmenistan’s Zyyamuhammet Saparov and a 3-3 criteria win against Kazakhstan’s Yedige Kassimbek in the semifinals.

Zare then defeated China’s Buheeerdun 12-2 in the final to retain his Asian Games crown.

Zare is a three-time world champion, a Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist and a Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalist. He also won the Asian Games 125kg title in 2023.

'Dedicated to Imam Reza'

Two-time Asian Games gold medalist Amirhossein Zare said he was pleased to retain his title after overcoming a high-level field in Nagoya.

“Thank God, I was able to win the Asian Games gold medal for the second time,” Zare said. He added that the competition had its own particular challenges, given both its importance and the team’s main objective of preparing strongly for the upcoming World Championships.

Zare said all teams had brought their leading wrestlers to the Asian Games, making it clear that no opponent could be underestimated.

“Perhaps many people had already set aside the gold medal for me, but the competition showed that you have to work hard to become champion,” he said, crediting the Iranian coaching staff, federation officials and the support of the Iranian people for his victory.

Zare also said he intended to dedicate the gold medal to the museum of the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam.

“I consider Imam Reza the true owner of these medals, and I believe that whatever I have achieved has been through his grace and blessing,” he said

2026 Asian Games: Abdevali beats Olympic champion to win Greco-Roman gold for Iran

Iran secured another wrestling gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games as Alireza Abdevali defeated Japan’s Olympic champion Nao Kusaka 5-3 in the men’s Greco-Roman 77kg final.

Iran now ranks seventh in the medals table of the Games as the delegation has earned 14 gold, 17 silver, and 13 bronze medals so far.

The Aichi-Nagoya Games are taking place from September 19 to October 4 at venues across Japan, bringing together around 17,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions to compete in 43 sports.

Iran’s delegation, named the “Minab Angels” in tribute to those massacred in the US-Israeli attack on Shajareh Tayyebe Elementary School in Minab on February 28, is represented by 305 athletes competing in 38 sports.

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