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Iranian wrestlers aim high as they grapple with Olympic training

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      China

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      Iranian wrestlers aim high as they grapple with Olympic training

      2024-07-09 17:48 Last Updated At:19:37

      Iranian wrestlers are beefing up their preparations for the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics, where the team's coaches and athletes say they are aiming for new heights.

      While the country competes across many different sports, it is wrestling that holds its attention. Roman and freestyle wrestling are a source of national pride, accounting for more than half of Iran's Olympic medals.

      Iran is one of the strongest teams in the world when it comes to wrestling. The country holds 76 Olympic medals, and its wrestlers have won nearly 50 of them.

      Since the Islamic Republic was established in the late 1970s, Iran has won medals in wrestling in all the summer games it's taken part in, and the national team plans to continue this legacy in France.

      "It's a very big responsibility to coach Iran's national team. People have the right to expect a lot from the wrestling team, especially our roman wrestlers. All the athletes in our Olympic delegation also expect a lot from us. And I'm hopeful that our six wrestlers can meet the people's expectations," said Hassan Rangraz, coach of the Iranian National Roman Wrestling Team.

      Amin Azazadeh is one of the hopefuls this year in the 120-plus kilogram weight category. Ranked number one on the United World Wrestling 2024 list, he is set to compete for gold.

      "In the previous Olympics I ranked fifth, but I'm hopeful about winning gold in the coming Olympics. We've definitely faced hard training days due to the importance of this Olympic Games, which are only held every four years. It needs precise planning. My strongest competitors are from Cuba, Türkiye, Russia, and of course the others are also good. No one goes to the Olympics to lose. We are all there to win," he said.

      Trophies Iran's national wrestling team has won throughout its history surround the players as they train.

      On the walls of the hall, pictures of World and Olympic champions look over the wrestlers to inspire them to new heights.

      On their journey to prepare for the Olympics, Iran's national wrestling team has won medals in all the competitions they've participated in over recent months.

      The country appears to be on the right track. Its wrestlers won 11 tickets for the Olympics out of the 12 maximum seats set for each country in both Roman and freestyle wrestling.

      Iranian wrestlers aim high as they grapple with Olympic training

      Iranian wrestlers aim high as they grapple with Olympic training

      Next Article

      People across China make preparations to welcome Spring Festival

      2025-01-21 06:41 Last Updated At:07:17

      A festive atmosphere is building up as people across China have been making preparations to ring in the Spring Festival next week, with lights and decorations set everywhere, and with New Year goods markets all seeing booming sales.

      The Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important annual holiday in China, when people across the country return to their hometowns for Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and family reunion. 

      In Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, a grand lantern show is in its final stage of preparation before opening to the public ahead of the eve of the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year. To be lit up on Wednesday, the large light sets presented at the event will draw numerous visitors, with lanterns that replicate 38 cultural relics as the highlight.

      Buying New Year flowers has been a custom for Chinese people. In Yancheng City of east China's Jiangsu Province, various flowers which have auspicious meanings are already in high demand.

      This year, tulips bred locally have been put on sale, and quickly become a favorable choice for many customers.  

      "I have never seen this kind of flower before. I think it is really bright-colored. Therefore, I decided to buy some to enhance the festive atmosphere at home," said Zhang Jinjian, a local resident.

      The Anchang ancient town in Shaoxing City of east China's Zhejiang Province has a time-honored custom of making aired sausages and spiced duck.

      As the Spring Festival draws near, plenty of visitors and tourists choose to purchase these local delicacies as ingredients for their Chinese New Year feast.

      "The number of tourists has been increasing, so the sales of our spiced meat have been quite good. Compared with the same period of last year, our sales is expected to increase by about 50,000 yuan (about 6,835 U.S. dollars). We will earn an additional 200,000 to 300,000 yuan (27,335 to 41,000 U.S. dollars) in sales during this whole winter," said Yang Jing, owner of a local spiced meat shop.

      In southwest China's Yunnan Province, the "Tiaocai dance" is a time-honored tradition of the Yi ethnic minority group. The dance is presented in the form of serving dishes while dancing to the rhythm. It usually happens on a joyous or grand occasion.

      Since the most significant annual festival is around the corner, Yi people have dressed up in traditional costumes, and got ready to welcome the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year with the special dance.  

      People across China make preparations to welcome Spring Festival

      People across China make preparations to welcome Spring Festival

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