Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler Sourian wins Rio 2016 Olympics berth

Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler Hamid Sourian Reihanpour has impressed the audience at the 2nd Olympic Games (OG) World Qualifying Tournament in Turkey, winning a ticket for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games and securing Iran's sixth and last Greco-Roman wrestling berth in the forthcoming prestigious event.

On Friday, the gold medalist at the London 2012 Olympics and six-time world champion, who had received a bye in his opening round contest of men’s 59-kilogram weight category in Istanbul, overcame his Croatian opponent Ivan Lizatovic 9-0  by technical fall in the first contest.

He then prevailed over Erik Weiss, a representative from Germany, 8-0 by technical fall, in the quarterfinal match to march into the semifinals.

The 30-year-old Iranian sportsman downed Dmytro Tsymbaliuk, a contestant from Ukraine, in the semifinal encounter and booked his spot in Brazil.

Sourian faced American Greco-wrestler Jesse David Thielke later on Friday in a ceremonial final showdown as both athletes have already earned their places in Olympic wrestling tournament. He wrapped up the final bout with a quick takedown and three gut wrenches for an 8-0 technical fall in just 36 seconds.

Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Mahmoud Goudarzi and President of the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Kioumars Hashemi congratulated Sourian on the notable achievement.

The 2nd Olympic Games (OG) World Qualifying Tournament, which serves as last chance qualification event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, opened in the Turkish coastal city of Istanbul on May 6, and will conclude on May 8, 2016.

A total of 36 wrestling berths for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games are up for grabs.

Wrestling competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are scheduled to take place from August 14 to 21 at Hall 3 of the Olympic Training Center in Barra da Tijuca.

About 344 wrestlers are expected to compete in 18 events. Men compete in both freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines, whereas women only participate in freestyle bouts.

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