Esteghlal Wrestling Club

Esteghlal Wrestling Club
Sport
Wrestling
LeagueIranian Premier Wrestling League
LocationJuybar, Mazandaran province (Freestyle)
Qom (Greco-Roman)
ArenaMehdi Hajizadeh Hall
Owner
Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries
ChairmanAli Tajernia
ManagerFreestyle: Komeil Ghasemi
Greco-Roman: Rouhollah Mikaeili
Websitewww.fcesteghlal.ir

Esteghlal Wrestling Club (Persian: باشگاه کشتی استقلال) is the wrestling department of Esteghlal Sports Club, an Iranian multi-sport club based in Tehran, Iran. The club operates teams in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, competing in the Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League and the Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League. Since 2025, the freestyle team has been based in Juybar, Mazandaran province, while the Greco-Roman team has been based in Qom.

History

Early years (1950s–1979)

The wrestling section of the former Taj Sports and Cultural Organization (the predecessor of Esteghlal Sports Club) was established during the early 1950s. During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Taj was one of the leading wrestling clubs in Iran, competing in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

The club won the Tehran Wrestling Clubs Championship in freestyle wrestling in 1956, 1959 and 1974, while its Greco-Roman team captured the same title in 1958, 1972, 1973 and 1974.[1]

Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the wrestling department was dissolved and remained inactive for more than two decades.

Revival (2001–2002)

After more than two decades of inactivity, Esteghlal re-established its wrestling section in 2001 during the chairmanship of Ali Fathollahzadeh. The club entered teams in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling for the 2001 Iranian Wrestling League season.[2]

Both teams won their respective league championships during the season. The Greco-Roman squad included wrestlers such as Hassan Rangraz and Ali Ashkani, while the freestyle team featured Mehdi Hajizadeh and Mohammad Isa Hajiev.[3][4]

The wrestling department was dissolved again in 2002.

Revival and runner-up finish (2020)

The wrestling section was revived once again in 2020 during the chairmanship of Ahmad Saadatmand. A freestyle wrestling team was established to compete in the 2020 Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League.[5]

Jahan Yaran Kohan Company was announced as the team's principal sponsor.[6]

Esteghlal competed in Group A of the league and advanced to the final, finishing as runners-up at the end of the season.[7]

Following the conclusion of the season, the wrestling team was once again disbanded.

Wrestling academy

In 2020, Esteghlal and the Iran Wrestling Federation reached an agreement to establish a wrestling academy in addition to the club's professional team.[8]

The academy was planned to operate at the Tofigh Jahanbakht Wrestling Hall, located within Shahid Shiroudi Sports Complex in Tehran.[9]

Revival (2025–present)

After several years of inactivity, Esteghlal re-established both its freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling teams in 2025. The freestyle team was based in Juybar, Mazandaran province, while the Greco-Roman team was established in Qom. The expansion formed part of the club's strategy to develop sporting activities outside Tehran.[10]

The freestyle team was drawn into Group B of the Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League, while the Greco-Roman team competed in Group A of the Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League.[11]

Before the start of the season, Esteghlal strengthened its freestyle squad by signing several international wrestlers, including Ibragim Kadiev, Ahmad Idrisov and Shamil Mamedov of Russia.[12][13]

The freestyle team advanced to the championship final after defeating Kheybar Khorramabad in the semi-finals. In the final, Esteghlal was defeated 6–4 by Bank Shahr and finished as runners-up in the league.[14]

The Greco-Roman team, coached by Rouhollah Mikaeili, won the Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League title during the same season.[15]

Head coaches

The first head coach of Esteghlal's modern wrestling team was Reza Yazdani, who was appointed in August 2020 ahead of the club's return to the Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League.[16] He guided the team to a runners-up finish before leaving the club at the end of the season.

Following the re-establishment of the wrestling section in 2025, Komeil Ghasemi was appointed head coach of the freestyle team,[17] while Rouhollah Mikaeili took charge of the club's Greco-Roman team.[18]

Season-by-season record

Honours

Freestyle wrestling

  • Iranian Wrestling League
    • Champions (1): 2001
  • Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League
    • Runners-up (2): 2020, 2025
  • Tehran Wrestling Clubs Championship
    • Champions (3): 1956, 1959, 1974
    • Runners-up (4): 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958
    • Third place (1): 1966

Greco-Roman wrestling

  • Iranian Wrestling League
    • Champions (1): 2001
  • Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League
    • Champions (1): 2025
  • Tehran Wrestling Clubs Championship
    • Champions (7): 1958, 1972, 1973, 1974

Notable wrestlers

Freestyle

Greco-Roman

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ahmadi, Ali Akbar (2009). The Complete History of the Club: From Docharkheh-Savaran and Taj to Esteghlal (in Persian). Tehran: Payegan Publications. ISBN 978-600-5096-57-6.
  2. ↑ "League Wrestling / Esteghlal Iran Team Manager: We Will Reach the Final by Defeating Adonis Khorasan". Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) (in Persian). 23 January 2002. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Hamshahri Sports". Hamshahri (in Persian). Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "Mehdi Hajizadeh Wins National Team Selection Tournament". Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) (in Persian). 14 July 2002. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Esteghlal Confirmed for Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League". Tasnim News Agency (in Persian). Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Esteghlal Wrestling Team Sponsor Announced". Fars News (in Persian). Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Iranian Wrestling Premier League Draw Held". Esteghlal F.C. (in Persian). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  8. ↑ "Meeting Between Saadatmand and Dabir". Esteghlal F.C. (in Persian). Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Details of Esteghlal Wrestling Academy". Mehr News Agency (in Persian). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  10. ↑ "Esteghlal forms teams in Iran's most successful sport". Khabar Farsi (in Persian). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "2025 Iranian Wrestling Premier League draw held". SNN (in Persian). 1 October 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Esteghlal Juybar unveils three Russian stars". Varzesh3 (in Persian). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "Russian contenders join Esteghlal". Fars News Agency (in Persian). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "Bank Shahr wins Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League title". Borna News Agency (in Persian). Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "Esteghlal wins Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League". Varzesh3 (in Persian). Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  16. ↑ "Reza Yazdani appointed as Esteghlal wrestling head coach". Mazand Sport (in Persian). Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  17. ↑ "Komeil Ghasemi appointed Esteghlal head coach". Islamic Republic News Agency (in Persian). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Rouhollah Mikaeili's Esteghlal tops the standings". ANA News Agency (in Persian). 31 October 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  19. ↑ Ahmadi, Ali Akbar (2009). The Complete History of the Club: From Docharkheh-Savaran and Taj to Esteghlal (in Persian). Tehran: Payegan Publications. ISBN 978-600-5096-57-6.
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