Hassan Yazdani Looks Ahead with Confidence After Winning Iran’s Selection Trial
Iranian wrestling icon Hassan Yazdani has officially booked his place at the 2026 World Wrestling Championships, overcoming fellow Iranian Amirali Azarpira in two selection bouts by identical margins of 4-2 and 5-3. The victories confirmed Yazdani as Iran’s representative in the highly competitive 97kg freestyle category.
However, for the decorated champion, qualifying for the World Championships is only one part of a much bigger journey.
Speaking after the selection trials, Yazdani admitted that his transition to 97kg has been one of the biggest challenges of his career. After spending years dominating at lighter weight classes, the Olympic champion acknowledged that competing against naturally bigger wrestlers demands significant physical and tactical adjustments.
A Difficult Return After Injury
Yazdani revealed that he entered the selection matches without being at full fitness, estimating that he was operating at around 70 percent of his ideal condition. Having undergone two shoulder surgeries in recent years, the Iranian star is still rebuilding his strength while adapting to the demands of a heavier division.
Despite those limitations, his performances against Azarpira demonstrated that his experience, technique and composure remain among the best in world wrestling.
The back-to-back victories also highlighted his determination to return to the sport’s biggest stage after a lengthy rehabilitation period.
New Weight, New Challenges
Having previously enjoyed remarkable success at 74kg and 86kg, Yazdani now faces a completely different landscape at 97kg.
He admitted that every bout requires a different approach because opponents possess greater physical strength and size. Rather than viewing the move as a setback, Yazdani sees it as a fresh challenge and believes continuous improvement will help him become more comfortable in the category before the World Championships.
His goal is to regain full match fitness while sharpening the technical adjustments needed to compete with the world’s elite heavyweights.
Eyes Firmly on the World Championships
Yazdani emphasized that qualifying was only the first objective. His focus now shifts entirely to preparing for the World Championships, where he hopes to compete at his peak after several months of training.
The Iranian legend also expressed confidence that he can continue improving physically and technically before the global event, despite acknowledging that the road back from injury has not been easy.
With one of wrestling’s most accomplished careers already featuring Olympic and World titles, Yazdani now has the opportunity to add another remarkable chapter by succeeding in a third Olympic weight class.
Selection Trial Results
Hassan Yazdani def. Amirali Azarpira – 4-2
Hassan Yazdani def. Amirali Azarpira – 5-3
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