Pahlevan of Iran (Persian: پهلوان ایران) is a national championship for pahlevani wrestling (koshti pahlavāni) held annually in Iran. Though the competition has ancient roots, its modern form began in 1944.[1][2]
The champion earns the title of Pahlevan and the right to wear the Bazouband (championship armband). Described as "tangled up with the soul of Iranian peoples", the title is athletically and culturally prestigious in Iran.[3] The Pahlevan armband was formerly awarded by the Shah of Iran and is now presented by the president of Iran.[4] Many Pahlevan have gone on to win medals in international competition.
Mostafa Tousi, 3-times winner (1323–25)
Ahmad Vafadar, 3-times winner (1329–31)
Abbas Zandi, with 4 titles (1328, 1332–35) and the youngest Pahlevan ever (18 years old)[1]
Gholamreza Takhti, 3-times winner (1336–38) was nicknamed Jahan Pahlevan[1]
Alireza Soleimani has the most titles (6-times in total: 1358,1361–62, 1364–65, 1369) and is nicknamed Pahlevan Bashi [1]
- Mirza Beyk-e Kashani
- Beyk-e Khorassani
- Hossein-e Kord[citation needed]
- Mir Baqer
- Jalal Yazdi
- Kabir-e Esfahani (Pahlavan-e Bozorg)
- Kalb Ali Aqa Jar
- Haji Yadollah Rezapoori
Pre-Modern period (1795–present)[6]
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- Haj Seyyed Hasan Razaz (Pahlavan-e Bozorg), also known as Pahlavan Shoja'at[citation needed]
- Ali Asghar Yazdi
- Haj Reza Qoli Tehrani
- Mohammad Mazar Yazdi
- Shaban Siyah Qomi
- Yazdi Bozrog (Pahlavan-e Bozorg)
- Akbar Khorasani
- Abolqasem Qomi
- Hossein Golzar-e Kermanshahi
- Sadeq-e Qomi
- Mirza Hashem Akbarian Tefaghi, Moblsaz Esfahani[citation needed]
- Yazdi Kuchak (last official Pahlavan of Iran)
- Aziz Khan Rahmani /Kurdistani also known by Sanandaji(Gold Medal in 1945)[citation needed]
Rostam and Sohrab, two of the Pahlevan in Shahnameh
There are many Pahlevan in the epic poem Shahnameh. But the meaning of Pahlavan in Shahnameh is not only attributed to the wrestler. In Shahnameh, the word Pahlevan is referred to its ancient status as a title of honour granted by Shah of Persia. Pahlavan title was granted by the shah to the candidates whom beside their athletic manner, honesty, righteous were brave warrior; and the hero Rostam was given the title of Jahan Pahlavan (Persian: جهان پهلوان), a title higher than Pahlavan, which most recently is used for Gholamreza Takhti.[7][circular reference][8][circular reference]