The Islamic Republic of Iran will host the 2017 freestyle and Greco-Roman world cups early next year, which serve as international wrestling tournaments among member nations of the United World Wrestling (UWW).
The 45th edition of the Freestyle World Cup will kick off on February 16, and finish the next day in the 12,000-seater hall of Azadi Sports Complex in western Tehran, and will bring together athletes from Iran as well as a number of Asian and European countries.
The Greco-Roman World Cup 2017 will also be staged between March 16 and 17 in the same venue.
Wrestling world cups have been held every year since the 1973 tournament. They began as dual-meet competitions for the top teams on each continent, but now feature the top teams in the rankings of the previous year’s world championships.
Iran’s national wrestling team claimed the Freestyle World Cup for the fifth successive year on June 13 this year.
The Iranian wrestlers bettered their Russian counterparts by five matches to three at the multi-purpose The Forum indoor arena in Inglewood, California, and clinched the gold medal.
The Iranian squad had earlier overcome Azerbaijan (5-3), India (8-0) and the United States (4-4)Â to reach the title showdown of the event.
Georgia defeated the host side 5-3 in the bronze medal match.
