News / Sports

Iranians rank first in world Pahlavani wrestling games

Tuesday, 11 October 2016 1:22 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 11 October 2016 1:24 PM ]

Iranian Pahlavani wrestlers (file photo)

Iranian wrestlers have produced awe-inspiring performances at the second edition of Pahlavani Wrestling World Championship in Indonesia to be crowned the champions of the tournament.

Iranian sportsmen stood atop the podium by a wide margin in the team division of the tournament in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta, and were followed by representatives from the Republic of Azerbaijan in the second spot, Pahlavani and Zurkhaneh Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran website reported.

Wrestlers from Iraq and Afghanistan sat jointly in the third place.

The second edition of Pahlavani Wrestling World Championship started in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 9 and will conclude on October 12, 2016.

Dozens of wrestlers from 40 different countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan are taking part in the tournament.

Pahlavani wrestling goes back to ancient Persia, and was originally used to train warriors.

It combines martial arts and wrestling techniques, calisthenics, strength training and epic music.

The two competitors try to take control over each other by throwing the opposite combatant back on his shoulder.

The wrestler is allowed to grab his opponent’s pants or belt as a grip. He can also use his or own legs to off-balance a rival, hence causing him to fall to the ground.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized Pahlavani wrestling as among the world's longest-running forms of sport.

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