INCHEON, Korea (September 29) – World silver medalists Masoud ESMAEILPOUR  (IRI) and Ezzatollah AKBARI (IRI) spearhead Iran’s bid to win four gold medals on Monday, the final day of freestyle wrestling at the Asian Games.

Iranian wrestlers won six of the eight freestyle weight categories at the Asian championships in April, but have, thus far, been held to only one medal at Dowon Gymnasium – a gold medal won by two-time former world champion Reza YAZDANI (IRI) at 97kg.

Esmaeilpour will try to improve on the silver medal he won earlier this month at the world meet, but questions may arise over whether he is fully recovered from the ordeal in Tashkent to take on a talented field at 61kg.

Akbari, silver medalist at the 2013 world meet, steps in at 74kg for Asia champion Reza AFZALI PAEMANI (IRI), who finished 13th in Tashkent, to some of the continent’s top welterweights, including 2013 world bronze medalist Rashid KURBANOV (UZB).

The other two members of the Iranian squad are Asia champion Meisam MOSTAFA JOUKAR (IRI) at 86kg and two-time Asia champ Parviz HADI (IRI) at 125kg. 

61kg -- Freestyle (15 entries)

Masoud ESMAEILPOUR (IRI) and Bajrang (IND), both 2013 world bronze medalists start on opposite sides of the bracket, but could well meet in the final – as they did for at the Asian championships in April. Esmaeilpour won that meeting by technical fall.

HWANG Ryong-Hak (PRK), the Asia champion in 2013, is in the lower half of the bracket and could meet Bajrang in the semifinals. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ), a bronze medal winner in each of the last two Asian meets, can look forward to a semifinal rematch with Esmaeilpour and a reprise of their 14-10 free-for-all in Almaty. 

74kg -- Freestyle (14 entries)

Ezzatollah AKBARI (IRI), last year’s world silver medalist, and bronze medal winner Rashid KURBANOV (UZB), stare at each other from opposite halves of the bracket and look at a possible replay of their semifinal match in Budapest. Akbari edged Kurbanov, at that time, 4-3. 

Kurbanov opens with 2013 world bronze medal finalist Narasingh Pancham YADAV (IND) and could meet Asian bronze medal winner Innokenti INNOKENTEEV (KGZ) in the semifinals. Akbari is looking at a possible meeting with 2013 Asian silver medalist ZHANG Chongyao (CHN).

86kg -- Freestyle (16 entries)

Asia champion Meisam MOSTAFA JOUKAR (IRI) appears to be the class of the field here, but 2013 champion Umidyon ISMANOV (UZB) will try to have his own say in the finals. 

Asian junior runner-up Bakhodur KADIROV (TJK) takes a shot at the senior ranks in a category where almost anything seems possible.

125kg -- Freestyle (10 entries)

Two-time Asia champion Parviz HADI (IRI) starts at the bottom of the bracket and will try to make his way to the Asian Games crown, but first he will have to get by DENG Zhiwei (CHN), who was a bronze medal finalist at the 2013 world meet.

JARGALSAIKHAN Chuluunbat (MGL), who finished second to Hadi in the 2013 Asian championships, looms as a possible quarterfinals opponent, while bronze medalist Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) could be waiting in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ), the winner of four bronze medals at the Asian championships, hopes the Asian Games will be friendlier and he will be able to find a higher position on the medals podium.