The world championship is to kick off in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, on December 12.

Yazdani, 25, a gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, last appeared in an international competition in September 2019, where he claimed a second world 86kg gold in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

A knee surgery and then the coronavirus pandemic – which has seen the majority of global sporting events still being halted since February – sidelined the Iranian for nearly 10 months before he returned to competitive wrestling in early October – representing Bazar-e Bozorg at Iran Premier Wrestling League.

“The league was a major boost for all Iranian wrestlers, both financially and fitness wise, as I tested my own vigor. A wrestling bout could put you some 20 days ahead [of your schedule],” said the four time world gold medalist.

Yazdani, who is back in training with at national team, added, “Wrestling competitions were suspended for seven months due to the coronavirus and we all had to train individually. Fortunately, I’m in good conditions and hope to reach full fitness until the world championship.”

Hailing the Iranian federation’s efforts in providing all hygiene requirements at the national team training camp, Yazadani said, “We observe all health protocols during training and all athletes are forbidden from leaving the camp.”

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Defending world and Olympic champion Yazdani claimed the bronze medal after beating Russian Dauren Kurugliev 11-5 in the 86kg.

The U.S.’s David Morris Taylor beat Turkey’s Fatih Erdin 12-2 in the final match.

Hadi also earned a bronze medal in the 125kg after defeating Russian Anzor Khizriev 11-2.

Geno Petriashvili from Georgia defeated Chinese Zhiwei Deng to claim the gold medal.

The competition is the first senior World Championships to use a ranking system to determine competitive seeds.

Previously athletes were put into brackets using a random draw, though the new system was announced at last year’s Championships in Paris.

Under the new system – set to be applied across all 30 weight categories at this year’s event – only wrestlers who finished within the top four of the pre-World Championships competition calendar are eligible to receive a seed.

The seed is non-transferable to another wrestler from the same National Federation, while if the seeded athlete does not enter their designated weight, then the seed moves to the next highest ranked wrestler.

Wrestlers may not carry their seed from one weight class to another.

The rankings on which the seeds are based, were determined by tallying points acquired at Continental Championships and several ranking series tournaments.

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