Freestyle wrestler Mehrdad Tarash is aiming for a medal finish at next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 24-year-old booked his place in the Australian team after winning the 65-kilogram division at the Australian nationals in Canberra.
Tarash, who trains in Maribyrnong, said he was rapt to have officially made the team.
“I was pretty confident going into the nationals,” he said.
“I have been training for this for a long time. It was just a matter of performing on the day. Luckily, everything went according to plan and it turned out well.”
After coming in ninth place at his first Commonwealth Games four years ago, in Delhi, India, Tarash is confident he is better prepared this time around.
The Sydenham resident said he learnt a lot from his Delhi experiences and is hoping to translate that into a podium finish.
“When I made my first Commonwealth Games team I was very young,” he said.
“I was only 20-years-old and I was inexperienced in terms of tournaments at that scale.
“My preparation wasn’t as good as I would have liked it to be but this time around I have learnt from my mistakes and I am a lot better prepared.
“I am definitely aiming for a medal. I am not there to muck around.”
In preparation for Glasgow, Tarash will continue to work with his coach, Sam Parker, and attend training sessions with the Australian team.
He will also work with his older brothers, Farzad, 26, and Farshad, 33, who bring unrivalled experience on big stages to his camp.
Farshad competed at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games and Farzad represented Australia at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Absolutely – it is great to be able to learn from them [Farzad and Farshad],” Tarash said.
“As older brothers, they have got some great experience.
“Having them there, especially at training, is very important.”
While his immediate attention is focused on the Commonwealth Games, Tarash is also hoping to follow in Farzad’s footsteps by making an Olympic team.
“That is definitely the bigger goal,” he said. “I was part of the qualification process with Farzad for 2012 but I didn’t make it.
“The next Olympics is one of the biggest things I have been working on.”
Liam Twomey
