Iranian wrestler finds solace in Indian akharas

Lucknow: As the floor trembles under the weight of two wrestlers locked in a bout, the crowd leans in with rising anticipation. At first, the chants favour the local contender. But as the tide turns and Erfan Hosseinzadeh Shali executes a decisive move, the same voices shift applause breaking out across the arena. In desi dangal circuits, where local loyalty runs deep, the 25-year-old Iranian who weighs around 125 kg, has found himself cheered even in victory over homegrown wrestlers.

Hailing from Tabriz, the capital city of Iran's East Azerbaijan province, a region known for its rich wrestling tradition, Erfan has spent over a year competing across Indian states, including UP, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra and other states. His Wednesday win in open fight, organised at Lucknow's K D Singh Babu stadium against a paramilitary wrestler Harsh Rana earned him a prize of Rs 2.51 lakh, adding to his growing recognition among local audiences. Yet behind the acclaim lies a dark reality from home. Erfan points to the ongoing war in Iran as a major disruption to the country's sporting landscape. "Due to the war, local-level competitions have been affected and many have been cancelled back at home," he said.

According to him, opportunities to compete have significantly reduced. "There is no concept of dangal (mud-wrestling) in Iran," he added, explaining his decision to travel to India, where traditional wrestling remains active and widely followed, before the present West Asia conflicts began. He has been in India since then, stationed in Chandigarh from where he makes his movements from one circuit to another.

Erfan said he has been following the developments in Iran from here and has since remained in regular contact with his family. "They are safe," he noted.

In contrast, his experience in India has been steady. Moving from one dangal to another, he continues to compete, adapt, and engage with local audiences. As fans continue to popularise Erfan with his bout reels from dangal space, the sport he grew up with faces interruptions back home.