News / Sports

Iranian freestyle wrestlers rank first in Senior Asian Championships

Sunday, 14 May 2017 5:06 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 14 May 2017 5:32 PM ]

This photo shows members of the Iranian men's national freestyle wrestling team during the Asian Senior Wrestling Championships in New Delhi, India. (Photo by the Islamic Republic of Iran Wrestling Federation)

The Iranian men's national freestyle wrestling team has produced awe-inspiring performances at the Asian Senior Wrestling Championships in India to be crowned the champion of the prestigious continental sports event.

Iranian sportsmen tallied 71 points to stand atop the podium by a wide margin in the team division of the tournament in the Indian capital city of New Delhi. They were followed by representatives from Japan, who notched 55 points to claim the second spot.

Wrestlers from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan sat in the third and fourth places with 49 and 47 points, respectively.

On Sunday, Behnam Eshagh Ehsanpoor received a bye in the first round of the 61-kilogram weight category. He overcame Jihoon Yun from South Korea 11-0 in his opening contest, before defeating Kazakh opponent Daulet Niyazbekov 9-4 in the semi-finals.

The Iranian wrestler triumphed over North Korea’s Han Song Kim 8-6 in the final, and won the gold medal.

In the 70-kilogram division, Hamed Houshang Rashidi earned a bronze medal for Iran after downing Tajik wrestler Gulomdzhon Sharipov 10-0 by technical fall.

Alireza Mohammad Karimimachiani also secured Iran's second gold medal at the sports tournament with a 12-1 victory over Azamat Dauletbekov of Kazakhstan in the 86-kilogram's final encounter.

Iranian freestyle wrestler Yadollah Mohammadkazem Mohebi poses with his gold medal after finishing first in the 125-kilogram weight category of the Asian Senior Wrestling Championships in New Delhi, India, on May 14, 2011.

Moreover, Yadollah Mohammadkazem Mohebi overwhelmed Indian rival Sumit Sumit 6-2 in the final bout of 125-kilogram weight class, and earned the third gold medal for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Asian Senior Wrestling Championships kicked off in New Delhi on May 10, and ran through May 14.

The tournament brought together dozens of male and female freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers from various Asian countries, including China, Chinese Taipei, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand and Uzbekistan.

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