Seven Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers have entered the top four of their weight classes ahead of the 2026 World Championships in Astana.
The latest rankings reflect points earned throughout the 2026 season, including continental events and ranking competitions. Consequently, Iran enters the tournament with strong positions across several divisions.
Payam Ahmadi currently ranks third at 55 kilograms after a successful season on the international circuit. He secured Iran’s world championship place after winning the Ulaanbaatar Open title in June.
Ahmadi also dominated the 55kg competition in Mongolia without surrendering a single point. Meanwhile, he will seek another strong performance after winning silver at last year’s world championships.
At 63kg, Mohammad Keshtkar holds fourth position in the latest rankings. Saeid Esmaeili also ranks fourth, competing in the 67kg division.
Seyed Danial Sohrabi occupies fourth place at 72kg after successfully defending his Ulaanbaatar Open title. He also won bronze at last year’s world championships and secured Iran’s place for Astana.
Alireza Mohmadi ranks fourth at 87kg, giving Iran another wrestler positioned among the leading contenders. At 97kg, Olympic and world champion Mohammad Hadi Saravi sits third.
Amin Mirzazadeh currently holds second place at 130kg, although he will not compete in Astana. Fardin Hedayati defeated Mirzazadeh 5-1 during Iran’s selection series and secured the heavyweight spot.
Therefore, Mirzazadeh will not defend his world title at the upcoming championships. Hedayati will instead represent Iran as the country seeks another major result in the division.
The 2026 Senior World Championships will run from October 24 to November 1. Barys Arena in Astana will host the nine-day tournament after Kazakhstan replaced Bahrain as host.
The competition will feature men’s freestyle, women’s wrestling, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Around 800 elite wrestlers from approximately 100 countries are expected to participate.
However, the current rankings do not establish the final tournament draw or official seeding. United World Wrestling will determine final seeds after countries submit their confirmed entries.
For Iran, the rankings nevertheless provide an encouraging picture before the championships. Seven wrestlers currently occupy top-four positions, highlighting the team’s depth across multiple weight classes.
The tournament also carries added significance because international travel and regional security concerns influenced the change of host venue. As preparations continue, Iran’s wrestlers will focus on maintaining form and converting strong rankings into championship results.