Former world champion Mansour Barzegar was announced as the new head coach of Iran's national freestyle wrestling team Saturday, IRNA reported from Tehran.

During a ceremony in Tofiq Jahanbakht gym of Shahid Shiroudi Sports Complex, central Tehran, Barzegar agreed to take the helm of world-class wrestling team.

Mohsen Mehralizadeh, the vice-president and head of the Physical Education Organization, Mohammad-Reza taleqani, the president of the Wrestling Federation, Morteza Faraji, the federation's vice-president, Ali Kaffashian, a PEO deputy, and Hassan Babak, the Greco-Roman head coach were present in the meeting.

Former freestyle head coach Mohsen Farahvashi welcomed the newly-appointed manager Barzegar, expressing his pleasure over his return to the national side.

He added Barzegar is the best option for training the national freestyle wrestlers.

Mehralizadeh also welcomed Barzegar and warned that just 261 days have left to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

He urged the wrestling officials and coaches to prepare the team for winning the title in the 2004 Olympic Games.

The vice-president said Iran is gold hopeful in four fields of wrestling, weightlifting, judo, and taekwondo.

"As the country's No. 1 sport official, I am duty-bound to provide all facilities needed for Iran's championship in the wrestling bouts of the Olympic Games," added the PEO supremo.

... Payvand News - 11/30/03 ... --