Greco-Roman Wrestler Ahmadi Vafa Thanks Iran Coaching Staff
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Greco-Roman wrestler Ali Ahmadi Vafa believes that he has won the gold medal in the U-23 World Championships with the help of his coaches’ analysis.
The 19-year-old was up against European silver medalist Rashad Mamadov from Azerbaijan in the final 11-3.
“It was decided by the coaching staff to compete at the U-23 World Championships after the U-20 one,” Ahmadi Vafa said. “Thank God, I was able to participate and return to Iran with a gold medal.”
Ahmadi Vafa credits his training this year and his study of his opponents as the major factors for his improvement after suffering close losses in the age-group World Championships last year.
“I worked really hard this year,” he said. “I spent a full year in training camp and put in a lot of effort. A thorough analysis with the coaching staff made me win. I was able to reap the rewards of all my hard work over the past year.”
In the 45-day break between the U-20 and U-23 World Championships, Ahmadi Vafa trained with the senior team.
“A few days after we returned to Iran, we went to the senior camp,” he said. “We were under a lot of physical strain, so the coaching staff decided to make our training sessions a bit lighter than the others.
“Our bodies responded well. I always felt deep inside that I could do it. I always say that I’m the best in my weight class,” Ahmadi Vafa added.
