#OlympicChannel

Olympic Channel: Iran's 'Greatest' Hassan Yazdani Seeks Wrestling Immortality

Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 12:35 By Andrew Binner

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Hassan YAZDANI, a 25-year-old native of Jouybar, is already a national hero in Iran. He's claimed gold at the Rio Olympic Games and has a pair of world titles on his resume. In an article published on the Olympic Channel, Andrew Binner broke down the career of "The Greatest" and looked at his path to a potential second Olympic title.

"Freestyle wrestling is Iran’s national sport, so when Hassan Yazdani pinned down the 74kg gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, he became an instant national hero.

He moved up to 86kg, which better suited his growing frame, taking out the world championships gold medal at his new weight division in 2017 and 2019.

Yazdani became known as The Greatest and Fearless back home, while his Instagram account swelled to over 500K followers. Quite simply, he could walk the streets of Iran like he was The King… which is incidentally another one of his nicknames there.

“The truth is that I hope I am worthy of these nicknames,” he told Tehran Times. “Each one is valuable for me and so I hope I can live up to the nicknames and the expectations of my great fans. I always want to keep their hope, so I accept them all and just hope that I am worthy.”

Read more on the Olympic Channel's site ... here

#development

Two Courses in 10 days, India dedicated to developing coaching pool

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 09:46 By United World Wrestling Press

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Delhi, India (7 April) – The Wrestling Federation of India organized 2 courses in India last month.  The first course was a Level 3 – Introduction to Periodization and Coaching Philosophy and was held on 21-25 March.  A second course was completed immediately after the first.  This was a Level 2 – Introduction to Practice Planning and was conducted from March 25-30. The courses were led by UWW Certified Educators Mr. Ahmed Khedhri (TUN).  “The participants engagement, along with the logistical and organizational support from the Indian Wrestling Federation, greatly contributed to the success of the courses.” Said Mr. Khedhri.

The Level 3 course was attended by 20 participants.  During the 5-days, the participants covered a wide range of topics which included performance analysis, fundamentals of periodization, practice plan review and self-reflection.  The course also addressed coaching philosophy, self-awareness, leadership styles, and coach vision. These topics were covered through a variety of lectures, practical exercises, and interactive group discussion.  “The Level-3 coaching course was a great opportunity for learning and development. I appreciated the teaching style, depth of knowledge, and clear communication, all of which were motivating and inspiring.” Said SB Prasad – GR National Coach

The Level 2 course was attended by 41 participants.  During the 5-day course, the coaches started with basic skill development and performance analysis basics and transitioned to the technicalities of designing and implementing practice plans.  The coaches learned the importance of designing sessions that are age and stage appropriate for their athletes.  These interactive sessions included a mix of small group work and practical sessions. “The Level-2 course was an incredible and enriching experience. I gained valuable knowledge that will greatly benefit my coaching career.” Said Shilpi Sheoran – WW National Coach  

IND
The 41 participants pose for a photo following the conclusion of the course. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Additional comments from the participants:

“I found the Level-3 course highly valuable, highlighting the practical approach, detailed explanations, and continuous support throughout the program. These aspects enhanced my understanding and confidence as a coach.” – Vinod Kumar – Head Coach, FS National Team

“The Level-2 course as extremely enriching and well-structured, with clear and engaging instruction. Thank you to UWW and WFI for organizing and facilitating this valuable program.” – Chandel Abhishek – Club Coach