By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Iran’s young wrestlers conquered the world on American soil, lifting both team titles at the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas in a triumph that went far beyond the medal count.

Iran topped the Greco-Roman team standings with 119 points, claiming three gold and two bronze medals. Days after, the freestyle squad sealed the double with 180 points, grabbing four gold, one silver and four bronze medals.

The double triumph put Iran ahead of its international rivals in both disciplines, underlining the country’s depth of talent and strength across the two wrestling styles.

The achievement came against the backdrop of an imposed war that began on February 28, when the United States and the Israeli regime launched unprovoked aggression against Iran.

In one of the deadliest attacks of the 40-day war, the US-Israeli axis targeted the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, killing at least 168 children and school staff.

In September, a UN fact-finding mission said the United States was responsible for the dastardly strike and concluded that it constituted a war crime.

Against this backdrop, Iran’s commanding presence on the podium in Las Vegas carried significance far beyond the competition and medals.

The Iranian Wrestling Federation had warned that the team would not travel if even one member of the delegation was denied a visa. Ultimately, all members received visas and competed at the championships.

For Iran’s champions, the medals represented more than personal achievements. They became tributes to the victims of the Minab school attack and expressions of solidarity with the Iranian people.

“I’m happy that I raised Iran’s flag in the United States,” said Abolfazl Mohammad Nezhad after winning freestyle gold at 125kg. “I dedicate my medal to my dear people and the innocent victims of the Minab school, who were unjustly killed.”

Abolfazl Rahmani, the team captain who captured the 92kg freestyle title, also dedicated his victory to the victims of the Minab school attack.

“I dedicate my medal to the angels of Minab, the innocent children who had done nothing wrong,” he said. “We haven’t done anything extraordinary; it is the dear people of Iran who have created an epic. I fight for the people of Iran like a soldier.”

Mahdi Yousefi, the 79kg freestyle champion, said the team had been united by a common goal: to claim the team title and raise Iran’s flag at the top of the podium.

“All the guys were united and working together to win the team title and raise Iran’s flag in the highest position,” he said, dedicating his medal to the Iranian people and the children killed in the Minab school attack.

Yousefi also spoke about the pressure he faced ahead of the final, knowing that victory was crucial to securing the team championship.

“I knew before the final that I had to win to seal the team title,” he said. “There was naturally a lot of psychological pressure, but I stepped onto the mat out of love for my people and for those who stayed awake late into the night to watch Iran’s flag rise in the heart of America. I fought with everything I had, and I thank God that I did not disappoint my people.”

Iran lifts historic U23 freestyle world team title with nine-medal haul in Las Vegas

Iran dominated the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas, striking gold in the freestyle team standings with nine medals and completing a double after its Greco-Roman triumph.

Meanwhile, spectators in the arena held up photographs of the children martyred in the Minab school attack, paying tribute to the young victims during Iran’s historic campaign.

Iran’s freestyle triumph was built on a strong collective effort. Alongside Khateri, Yousefi, Rahmani and Mohammad Nezhad, silver medalist Ebrahim Elahi and bronze medalists Ebrahim Khuari, Ali Karampour, Reza Afshar and Mohammadmobin Azimi helped the team amass 180 points and secure the team title.

In Greco-Roman wrestling, Erfan Jarkani, Abolfazl Mohmedi and Yasin Yazdi claimed gold, while Mohammad Kamali and Mohammad Hadi Seydi added bronze medals.

Iran finished five points ahead of Kazakhstan, with Russia taking third place.

The results also offered a promising glimpse of Iran’s wrestling future. Several young Iranian wrestlers have progressed to the senior national team in recent years, and the U23 double triumph underscored the depth of talent available to maintain the country’s competitiveness on the international stage.

Iranian Wrestling Federation President Alireza Dabir captured the national mood in a message congratulating the team: “Congratulations to the Iranian people on the championship on American soil.”

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s “civilization,” the Iranian national anthem played seven times on American soil. The repeated renditions became a powerful symbol of national pride and resilience that extended beyond the wrestling arena.

In Las Vegas, Iran’s young wrestlers showcased the strength of the country’s wrestling tradition, the promise of its next generation and the profound personal significance of representing their nation on the world stage.