Iran Beats Hosts to Win 2012 Freestyle Wrestling World Cup in Baku

The Iranian freestyle wrestling team has been crowned champions of the 2012 FILA Freestyle Wrestling World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, after defeating the hosts in the final of the games.

Iran defeated Azerbaijan 4-3 in the last clash of the tournament in the Sarhadchi Sport Olympic Center to win the tournament for the fifth time.

Hassan Rahimi (55 kg), Mehdi Taqavi (66 kg), Sadeq Goudarzi (74 kg), and Reza Yazdani (96 kg) defeated their Azerbaijani opponents while Massoud Esmailpoor (60 kg), Ehsan Lashgari (84 kg) and Komeil Qasemi (120 kg) lost their respective games.

The Iranian team advanced to the finals after defeating the US 4-3 in round four. Earlier, the Americans beat Russia 5-2 to clinch the bronze medal.

Iran had previously won the 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2006 World Cups.

FILA Wrestling World Cup is an international wrestling competition among teams representing member nations of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), the sport's global governing body.

The championships have been conducted every year since the 1973 tournament. The World Cup began as a dual-meet competition for the top teams on each continent, but now features the top teams in the rankings of the previous year's world championships.