Iranian wrestlers go for the gold in Rio

Barbara Slavin

Aug 3, 2016

Sep 12, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Hassan Sabzali Rahimi of Iran (blue) competes against Vladimer Khinchegashvili of Georgia (red) in the mens 57kg freestyle on the final day of the World Wrestling Championships at The Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports - RTSTUJ — Former world champion Hassan Rahimi of Iran (blue) competes against Vladimer Khinchegashvili of Georgia (red) in the men's freestyle 57 kilogram on the final day of the World Wrestling Championships at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Sept. 12, 2015. Khinchegashvili won the gold medal, 5-4. — Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

When the Olympic Games kick off in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5, 64 Iranian athletes will be competing, among them 12 wrestlers.

Alireza Moradi, the head of the cultural committee for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Wrestling Federation, told Al-Monitor in an email that Iran — which won nine medals in wrestling at the last Olympics — has high hopes for Rio in both the freestyle and Greco-Roman categories.