Gholamreza Takhti

Infobox Wrestler
name = Gholamreza Takhti
names = Jahan Pahlavan Takhti


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birth_date = birth date|1930|8|27|mf=y
birth_place = Tehran, Iran
death_date = death date and age|1968|1|7|1930|8|27|mf=y
death_place = Tehran, Iran
resides =
billed =
trainer =
debut = 1950
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Gholamreza Takhti (PerB|غلامرضا تختی‎, August 27, 1930 – January 7, 1968) is the most famous wrestler in Iranian history. He was most famous for his chivalrous behaviour and sportsmanship, and he continues to symbolize the essence of sports to the Iranian people.

Early life

Takhti was born in Tehran, Iran (Persia) on August 27, 1930. Takhti's family was poor, leaving Takhti with only 9 years of schooling. But he was recognized as a natural athlete and was taken into the Poolad gymnasium for further training.

Character

In 1961, a terrible earthquake occurred in Boein Zahra in western Iran, killing 45,000. Takhti was deeply touched by the suffering. Already one of Iran's biggest stars, he began to walk one of the main avenues of Tehran, asking for assistance for the victims. He inspired other champions to follow in his footseps, and thousands gave to alleviate the suffering.

Another example of his character comes from a match in Moscow. After defeating the then world champion Anatoli Albul, Takhti saw the sorrow on the face of Albul's mother. Takhti went to her and said, "I'm sorry about the result, but your son is a great wrestler." She smiled and kissed him.

And another memory of him that clarifies his character more: Once he had a match with Russian wrestler Alexander Medved who had an injured right knee. When Takhti found out that he was injured, he never attacked the leg. Instead, he tried to catch the other leg. It shows that he valued honourable behaviour more than reaching victory.

Alexander Medved, out of respect, has visited Takhti's grave many times in Iran over the years.

Death

Takhti was found dead in his hotel room on January 7, 1968. The Iranian government officially proclaimed his death a suicide. However, some claim that he was murdered because of his political activities against the Pahlavi regime, accusing Savak, the Iranian intelligence agency at that time. Fact|date=August 2007 He is buried at Ebn-e Babooyeh cemetery in Southern part of Tehran, near , examined some of the theories about Takhti's death.Fact|date=October 2007

Notes

References

* [http://parssport.ir/wrestling/yademan/takhti.htm profile]

External links

*imdb title|id=0260413|title=Takhti
* [http://www.peiknet.com/1385/hafteh/11ord/65/page/46kasrayi.htm A poem by Siavash Kasrai about Takhti]
* Mohtāj Rasouli, "In Memory of Jahān Pahlavān Takhti", in Persian, Jadid Online, 2008, [http://www.jadidonline.com/story/07012008/almf/takhti_annivversary] .
Shokā Sahrāi, "A slide show", Jadid Online, 2008, [http://www.jadidonline.com/images/stories/flash_multimedia/Takhti_anniversary_test/takhti_high.html] (3 min 47 sec).
"Some reminecences of Gholamreza Takhti by his friends", in Persian, Jadid Online, 2008, [http://www.jadidonline.com/story/07012008/akmf/takhti_memories] .