WANA (Sep 19) – The unexpected brilliance of Peyman Ahmadi, Iran’s young Greco-Roman wrestler, even drew a reaction from United World Wrestling. In its report, the federation wrote:“ Iran’s gamble in replacing Pouya Dadmarz with Peyman Ahmadi, the junior world champion, paid off as he prevented Eldaniz Azizli from claiming his fifth world gold.”

 

It all began with a bold decision by Hassan Rangraz, the head coach of Iran’s national Greco-Roman team. Just a week before the squad’s departure for the World Championships in Zagreb, he dropped Dadmarz and put his trust in Ahmadi. The domestic trials had already justified this faith: Ahmadi decisively defeated the world silver medalist, and only a month after winning the junior world title, he secured his ticket to the senior world stage.

 

The 19-year-old Ahmadi put on a dazzling performance in Zagreb in the 55kg weight class. After receiving a bye in the opening round, he dominated Kyrgyzstan’s Ulan Muratbek Uulu with a spectacular salto suplex to claim a commanding 9–0 victory and advance to the quarterfinals. There, he brushed aside Moldova’s Artiom Deleanov 8–0. But the highlight of the young star from Izeh came in the semifinals, where he delivered a calculated and commanding display to defeat Azerbaijan’s Eldaniz Azizli, the four-time world champion, 3–1 and book his place in the final.

Peyman Ahmadi’s Stunning Suplex at the World Championships. Social media / WANA News Agency

Peyman Ahmadi’s Stunning Suplex at the World Championships. Social media / WANA News Agency

This historic run not only marks a brilliant start to Ahmadi’s senior international career but also shows that the coaching staff’s bold risk and trust in an unknown youngster could shape a new future for Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling.

 

After his victory, Ahmadi said: “Thank God, after the Junior World Championships, I became better prepared during the senior training camps. With the help of the analysts, my personal coach, as well as head coach Hassan Rangraz and national team coach Hassan Hosseinzadeh, I was able to beat Azizli.”

 

Ahmadi will face Georgia’s Vakhtang Lolua in tomorrow’s final — a match that could etch his name into the history of Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling.

 

The 2025 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships began on Thursday, September 18, and will continue through September 21 in Zagreb.