News / Sports

Iran judoka Khojasteh snatches silver in Asian championships

Saturday, 16 April 2016 2:21 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 16 April 2016 2:20 PM ]

Iranian judo practitioner Alireza Khojasteh (R) poses with his silver medal at the Asian Judo Championships 2016 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, April 15, 2016.

Iranian judo practitioner Alireza Khojasteh has put out an acceptable performance at the Asian Judo Championships 2016 in Uzbekistan, and managed to receive a silver medal at the tournament.

On Friday and the second day of competitions at Sports Complex in Tashkent, the 19-year-old Iranian athlete shone in the minus 66-kilogram weight class, and finished as the vice-champion in the continental sporting event.

He prevailed over a representative from Hong Kong in his first contest, before downing Kazakh opponent Zhansay Smagulov in the next bout and progressing to the quarterfinal.

Khojasteh overwhelmed Chinese competitor Duanbin Ma and earned a place in the semifinal round, where he defeated Chen Chia-Hung from Chinese Taipei and booked the ticket for the final showdown.

He however conceded a defeat against Altansukh Dovdon from Mongolia and scooped the silver medal.

Kazakh judoka Yeldos Zhumakanov and Davaadorjiin Tomorkhuleg from Mongolia shared the bronze medal.

“The tournament is highly competitive and outstanding athletes had participated in the (minus 66-kilogram) weight division.

“Nevertheless, I am happy to have collected a silver medal for the first time in Asian championships. I have snatched the gold in case I had been more attentive,” Khojasteh said after the final contest.

The Asian Judo Championships 2016 started in the Uzbek capital city of Tashkent on April 14 and will conclude on April 17.

The tournament has brought together 137 male judo practitioners and 98 female judokas from thirty countries, including China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

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