Russian Wrestling Team Reluctant to Compete In Iran, Says Khadem

February 12, 2018

“The Russian senior wrestling team has not shown any interest in competing in Iran in recent years,” Rasul Khadem Azghadi, the president of the Iran Wrestling Federation, said.

“In addition, the tournaments we compete in are not received very enthusiastically in Russia,” he added.

Khadem said he believed that regional politics and security concerns made it difficult for many countries to take part in wrestling competitions in Iran. “Entering in tournaments in Iran is not a priority for many countries,” Khadem noted.

The Russian team did not participate in the Takhti Cup which was held in Tehran last week. “Russia has not been eager to enter a competition in Iran. They have also not been so keen for us to take part in any tournaments in that country,” Khadem said.

Khadem noted that although the Iranian team had caught up in the world ranking with the Russians, the latter was still stronger in both Greco-Roman and Free Ship styles of wrestling.

“In many instances, our invitations to a Russian tournament arrive very late, as if they didn’t really want us to participate in the competition in their country,” Khadem Sao d.

Rasul Khadem Azghadi is an Iranian wrestler. He won a Bronze medal in the ۱۹۹۲ Summer Olympics, ans a gold medal in the ۱۹۹۶ Summer Olympics. He is also the 1994 and 1995 world champion, and the 1991, 1992, 1993, ۱۹۹۴, ۱۹۹۵ and 1996 Asian champion.