Iran crowned Asian freestyle wrestling champion
Atotal of eight medals across 10 weight classes saw Iran dominate the freestyle contests of the Asian Wrestling Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – the 29th title, and fourth in succession, for the Asian powerhouse since the competition was first introduced in 1979.
Iran topped the freestyle table with 201 points, with India finishing as the runner-up on 152 points, courtesy of one gold, as well as three silver and bronze medals apiece.
Kazakhstan tallied 151 points for the third spot with one gold, three silvers, and four bronzes.
On Sunday, Yadollah Mohebbi rounded off a glittering campaign for Iran by beating Kazakhstan’s Alisher Yergali in the 125kg final showdown – a remarkable sixth freestyle gold for the country.
Representing Iran in the 74kg weight class, Younes
Emami outmuscled defending champion and a 2019 world silver medalist Nurkozha Kaipanov 5-2 for the ultimate prize – a second Asian medal for the former world bronze winner following a third-spot finish in Xi’an, China, three years ago.
World junior champion Amir-hossein Firouzpour, 20, outclassed host’s Orgilokh Dagvadorj 11-0 to march to the 92kg gold in his debut at the competition.
Also on Sunday, Dariush Hazratqolizadeh settled
for a 61kg silver after being stunned by Japanese Rei Higuchi – a silver winner at Rio 2016 Olympics – 10-0 inside 47 seconds.
Mohsen Mostafavi, meanwhile, defeated South Korean Kim Gwanuk 4-0 to finish his campaign with a consolation bronze in the 86kg class.
Sunday’s triumphs came a day after Rahman Amouzad (65kg), Ali Savadkouhi (79kg), and Mohammadhossein Askari Mohammadian (97kg) all came out victorious in their respective finals.
The result in Mongolia will surely be regarded as total success for Iranian head coach Pejman Dorostkar, who, only in his second major tournament in charge of the national team, decided to call up a team of the country’s second bests and young talents for the event.
Iran had finished runner-up in the Greco-roman contests with seven medals, including four golds earlier in the six-day event.
Iran collected 176 points, 14 adrift of Kazakhstan.
Mohammadreza Mokhtari (72kg), Rasoul Garmsiri (82kg), Nasser Alizadeh (87kg), and Mehdi Bali (97kg) won golds for Iran, with Mehdi Mohsen-nejad settling for the 60kg silver.
Iman Mohammadi (63kg) and Aref Habibollahi (77kg) also finished their campaigns with consolation prizes by grabbing the bronze medals of their respective weight classes.