Junior Iranian freestyle wrestler Abolfazl Aramideh, who has been battling cancer over the past few months, is poised to receive the United World Wrestling (UWW) Endurance Trophy later this week.
Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Masoud Soltanifar is going to present the prize to the 15-year-old bronze medalist of the 2016 Cadet Asian Championship on November 20, which corresponds to the Universal Children's Day dedicated to the promotion of well-being and human rights of world's children.
“Aramideh has exhibited a great deal of courage and strength in the combat against his disease,” President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Wrestling Federation Rasoul Khadem commented on the junior Iranian wrestler’s condition.
Earlier, Khadem had posted a letter to the president of the international governing body for amateur wrestling, Nenad Lalović, asking him to decorate Aramideh with the UWW Endurance Trophy.
Online support for Aramideh, who has been diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, has been tremendous. American world and Olympic freestyle champion Jordan Burroughs recently wished the Iranian teenager "a speedy recovery" in a message posted on his Instagram page.
“I say hello to everyone in Iran and Iranian national team. I wish you a speedy recovery,” Burroughs wrote.
Burkitt lymphoma, also known as Burkitt's tumor, Burkitt's lymphoma, or malignant lymphoma, is a cancer of the lymphatic system.
Aramideh is currently receiving treatment at the hematology-oncology ward of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Hospital.
On July 10, the Iranian wrestler overcame Abdymalik Karachov of Kyrgyzstan to claim the bronze medal in the 42-kilogram weight section of the 2016 Cadet Asian Championship.
The national Iranian cadet freestyle wrestling squad finished third in the championship, having collected four gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal and an overall 75 points.
The Kazakhs were named the top-ranked cadet freestyle team in Asia with 82 points. Indians garnered 78 points to claim the second position.
The 2016 Cadet Asian Championship started in Taichung, Chinese Taipei, on July 7 and concluded on July 10.