Iranians Top Zourkhaneh Championships in Philippines

Iran’s squad took the first place of the Sixth Asia Zourkhaneh and Koshti (wrestling) Pahlavani Championship in Tanauan City, Philippines, on Dec. 19-24.

The team finished first with a remarkable point gap with the second team, Iraq. Also in individual section, Iranian Zourkhaneh athletes finished first in five of the six categories, Varzesh3.com reported.

Hamidreza Kurdi, Amir Shahriari, Farid Amini, Ali Jaliljou and Seyyed Jalal Salehi won the gold medals for Mil Bazi, Mil Giri Sangin, Sang Gereftan, Tiz Spinning and Chamani Spinning respectively. In Kabbadeh Keshi category, Hamidreza Kurdi finished second after the Iraqi athlete.

For Mil Bazi, athletes lift up two Mils (a tool made of wood in bottle form) each weighing 1-2 kg. They throw them up in the air and catch them skillfully again in appreciable gesture.

Mils used for Mil Giri weigh 10-30 Kg. Athletes lift one Mil with right hand, put it first on their right shoulder, then move it to their back and finally bring it down and do the same with their left hand. They repeat this several times.

Mil’s shape resembles mace and has its root in ancient times. They use it like an Indian club. The device was probably made of iron or wooden at the beginning and used for body building and fighting by mace.

In Sang Gereftan, an athlete lies down on the ground and presses up and down two large wood panels (resembling battle shield), each one weighing up to 80 kg.

Spinning is a practice of turning around oneself fast and in a rhythmic pace that requires the skill to keep one’s balance.

In Kabbadeh Keshi, the athlete lifts the bow-shaped weight above his head and straightens the arm, then he tries to shake it left and right by bending his elbows and moving his shoulders.

In Pahlevani wrestling section, the competitions are divided into five weight categories. Peyman Mohammadzadeh and Mohammad Hosseinzadeh won the gold medals of +90 kg and 80-90 kg categories respectively.

Also in 60-70 kg and 70-80 kg, Ali Hatami and Ali Jaliljou grabbed silver medals. In the 50-60 kg category, Seyyed Jalal Salehi finished third after Nepali and Thai rivals.

Zourkhaneh is a traditional Persian gym and means “house of strength”. Pahlavani reflects heroism or courageous deeds.

The sport is 4,000 years old, based on inscriptions found in stone monuments in Lorestan Province and Mesopotamia. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization registered Pahlavani and Zourkhaneh rituals in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.

Zourkhaneh sports are done individually and in groups, depending on whether or not they use accessories.

Accessory activities include Sang Gereftan, Mil Giri, Shena and Kabbadeh Keshi and non-accessory activities comprise stretching and warm up, foot tapping, spinning and heroic moves.