Iran’s Masoumi Aims for Gold at 2025 Asian Wrestling Championship
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian wrestler Amir Reza Masoumi has his eyes set on next week’s Asian Championships in Amman.
His goal is clear: gold. But the path to the podium runs through two opponents he knows all too well — Lkhagvagerel Munkhtor from Mongolia and Buheerdub of China.
Two years ago at the Asian Championships in Astana, the then 18-year-old Masoumi suffered his only international losses to non-Iranian wrestlers. A semifinal defeat to Munkhtur was followed by a bitter loss to Buheeerdun in the bronze-medal bout at 125kg. Now, as a more focused and confident 20-year-old, Masoumi is eager to avenge those setbacks.
Masoumi has grown immensely since then. He is now a six-time world champion in various age groups, with two more titles added in 2024. In those competitions, he didn’t allow a single point to be scored against him. He continued his flawless form at the 2025 Zagreb Open, outscoring his opponents 42-0 in four matches. His elbow, which had once been a source of discomfort, is now fully healed, and Masoumi shows no signs of slowing down, UWW.org reported.
“I hope to use this experience and return to win the World Championships in Zagreb,” he says after claiming gold in the Croatian capital.
“I have a sneaker collection myself, and I really love shoes,” he said. “I always carry a lot of them with me. For example, in this tournament alone, I brought five pairs. I mostly try to wear special brands and new collections. I think I have around 100 pairs of shoes.”
That's where he spends most his money.
Masoumi has just won the Zagreb Open gold medal in a dominating manner and began the new Olympic cycle with a bang.
“The ultimate dream for every athlete is definitely an Olympic gold, and that’s mine as well,” he says. “I want to stand on the podium in Los Angeles in four years.”
