#WrestleGuatemala

#WrestleGuatemala Weight-to-Watch: 74kg

Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 00:55 By Eric Olanowski

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GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (May 18) – Two-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) and three-time Olympian Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) headline the seven-man 74kg bracket at next week’s Pan-American Championships (May 27-30). 

Last month, Dake defeated Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) two matches to none in the finals of the United States Olympic Trials and solidified himself as The Stars and Stripes’ representative for the Pan-American Championships and the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Dake, who won back-to-back world titles at 79kg, will be competing at the continental championships for the first time in his career and is on a mission to keep his 40-month win streak alive. ‘Kid Dynamite’ will be lacing up his boots at 74kg for a third consecutive international competition beginning his run to August’s Tokyo Games.

In his previous two showings, Dake went undefeated and claimed golds at the ’21 Henri Deglane and the ’20 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. 

Undoubtedly, Dake’s toughest competition will be Puerto Rico’s ’11 world finalist Franklin Gomez. The four-time Pan-Am medalist and returning silver-medal winner is on a quest to reach the top of the continental podium for the first time in over a decade. Despite winning medals in three of his last four continental appearances, the Puerto Rican has fallen short of winning gold since his first continental appearance back in ’11. 

The Pan-American Championships will be Gomez’s second competition back since the COVID layoff. He competed in Rome’s Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event earlier this year where he won a pair of matches – including a 6-4 win over Rio Olympic bronze medalist Yakup GOR (TUR) – but fell to two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and ’19 world silver medalist Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) and settled for fifth place. 

Wrestling at the Pan-American Championships kicks off on May 27 and can be followed live on www.uww.org.  

74kg Pan-American Entries 
Renato Patricio DA SILVA (BRA) 
Jasmit Singh PHULKA (CAN) 
Hossman Eduardo CARVAJAL ROJAS (COL) 
Malhcon Alizon PINEDA CUNIL  (GUA) 
Victor Eduardo HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX) 
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) 
Kyle DAKE (USA) 

#IranWrestling

Inspired by Olympic Gold, Esmaeili's Cousins Win U17 Asian Titles

Friday, June 12, 2026 - 12:33 By Vinay Siwach

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DA NANG, Vietnam (June 11) -- When 20-year-old Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) returned to Iran after winning Olympic gold in Greco-Roman 67kg at the Paris Games, he came home with more than just a medal around his neck. He returned with proof that wrestling could change lives.

Raised in poverty in Dezful, Khuzestan Province, Esmaeili's improbable run to Olympic gold transformed him overnight into a national sensation. He was showered with gifts, cash awards and job offers.

The ripples of that triumph are still being felt. Last month, two of Esmaeili's own cousins, Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) and Vahid ASHIRI (IRI), won gold medals at the U17 Asian Championships in Da Nang after taking up wrestling only two years ago, inspired by his Olympic success and the hero's welcome he received back home.

Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI)
Paris Olympic champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI), left, with his cousin Ali who won 48kg gold medal at the U17 Asian Championships.

Ali, whose father is Esmaeili's uncle, competed in Greco-Roman 48kg and won three bouts to capture the gold medal. He outscored his opponents 22-2 including two technical superiority wins.

Another cousin from his mother's side, Ashiri, competed in the Greco-Roman 55kg weight class and was crowned champion after four victories. He defeated wrestlers from India, Jordan, China and Kyrgyzstan with scores of 6-1, 5-2, 11-1, and 3-1 to capture the Asian title.

While they were winning gold medals in Vietnam, Olympic champion Esmaeili was watching from Iran.

"I watched their Asian finals and I always follow their training," Esmaeili told United World Wrestling. "We are from the same club and both are talented."

Ali ESMAEILI (IRI)Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) became the U17 Asian champion at 48kg in Greco-Roman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The two took up wrestling at the age of 14 and quickly rose through the province before making it to the Iran team for the U17 Asian Championships. Ali Esmaeili feels that Saeid's presence motivates him to work harder to achieve medals in wrestling.

"I got into wrestling after watching Saeid's Olympic final. In 2 years, with his help, I managed to become the Asian champion. Every time I see Saeid, I feel really good and I am proud of him."

Though Esmaeili trains at the national camp in Tehran, he does not miss a chance to train the youngsters when he returns home and practices in Dezful.

"I tried to answer every question they asked me about wrestling carefully and I also taught them some of my techniques," he said.

Vahid ASHIRI (IRI)Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) claimed the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Ashiri also stepped foot in the club after watching Esmaeili's thrilling Paris campaign. Two years later, he is proud to represent both the Esmaeili family and the club.

"After Saeid won the gold medal, I went to the club where he trains and whenever I had any questions, he explained them to me carefully," Ashiri said. "I am truly proud to be a member of the club and a family with such a personality."

The next stop for both Ali and Ashiri will be the U17 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan from July 28 to August 2.

"Just like the Asian Championships, I want to repeat the success at the World Championships," Ali said.

RESULTS

48kg
Final: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Javokhir SHARIFBOEV (UZB), 4-2
Semifinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Umarali BERDALIEV (KGZ), 9-0
Quarterfinal: Ali ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Liaotan LAN (CHN), 9-0

55kg
Final: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Syimyk ASKAROV (KGZ), 3-1
Semifinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Zihao ZHANG (CHN), 11-1
Quarterfinal: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. Adam ABU FARE (JOR), 5-2
Qualification: Vahid ASHIRI (IRI) df. HARION (IND), 6-1