Esteghlal-e-Qom Crowned Champions of the 2025 Iran Greco-Roman Wrestling League
The 2024–2025 Iran Greco-Roman Wrestling League kicked off in November with six participating teams: Esteghlal Qom, R’ad Padafand, Moghavemat Alborz, Naft-o-Gaz Shiraz, Islamic Azad University, and Sina San’at Izeh.
Despite the small lineup—after last year’s champions Masjed Soleyman officially withdrew—this season delivered intense duals, surprising results, and standout individual performances.
Azad University Represents Khuzestan With New Leadership
With Masjed Soleyman absent, Islamic Azad University competed under the banner of Khuzestan, led by championship-winning coach Amir Ghasemi Monjezi, who guided Masjed Soleyman to the league title last year.
Azad reached the semifinals and even defeated Naft-o-Gaz Shiraz in the return leg held in Ahvaz. But despite strong efforts, they fell in the bronze-medal match to the Army team, who had strengthened their lineup and entered the final rounds with determination and momentum. Contrary to early predictions, Azad University finished off the podium.
Semifinals: Tight Battles and a Rising Esteghlal
The semifinals produced closer matches than expected.
R’ad Padafand pushed Naft-o-Gaz Shiraz to the limit in a competitive dual.
Esteghlal Qom, despite dropping the first two bouts, regained control and punched their ticket to the final.
Final: Esteghlal Qom Dominates Naft-o-Gaz Shiraz
In the championship dual between Esteghlal Qom and Naft-o-Gaz Shiraz, Esteghlal took immediate command, winning the first five consecutive matches. Naft-o-Gaz secured victories at 77 kg (Amin Kavianinejad) and 82 kg (Mohammadreza Mokhtari), but Esteghlal closed out the remaining bouts with authority.
Under coach Rouhollah Mikaeili, Esteghlal delivered a powerful, confident performance to win the 2025 league title.
Match Winners for Esteghlal Qom
Esteghlal’s champions across the weights:
55 kg – Hossein Bezhani
60 kg – Alireza Nejati
63 kg – Mohammadjavad Abutalebi
67 kg – Ahmadreza Mohsenzadeh
72 kg – Iman Mohammadi
87 kg – Jamal Esmaeili
97 kg – Naser Alizadeh
130 kg – Morteza Alghousi
Mohsenzadeh was among the brightest performers of the day, while Iman Mohammadi once again delivered an exceptional match. However, one of the most captivating moments of the final was the spectacular showdown between Mohammadjavad Abutalebi and world champion Meysam Dalkhani—a match many fans considered the highlight of the dual.
At 97 kg, Naser Alizadeh earned a significant victory against a wrestler once considered the closest challenger to world champion Mohammad Hadi Saravi, marking an impressive return to competition.
Despite fewer teams, the 2024–2025 Iran Greco-Roman League season delivered high-level wrestling, tactical battles, and rising talent. Esteghlal Qom’s commanding championship run, backed by consistent performances across nearly all weight classes, solidified their place as the season’s dominant force.