Iranians secure 15 more medals at Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games

Iranian sportsmen and women have continued to deliver remarkable performances at the ongoing 5th edition of Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan, and got fifteen more medals to lift the Islamic Republic’s medal count to 93 at the international multi-sport event. 

On Sunday, Iranian kickboxer Shahnaz Mirheidari overpowered her Turkmen opponent Maýsa Gupbykowa 10-0 in the final contest of women's point fighting minus 55-kilogram category, and was awarded the gold medal.

In the women's full contact minus 56-kilogram division, Fatemeh Alizadeh conceded a 1-2 defeat to Akerke Nauryzbayeva, a representative from Kazakhstan, claiming the silver medal.

Iran’s Iraj Moradi also picked up a bronze medal for the Islamic Republic in the men's low kick minus 63.5-kilogram section.

Iranian weightlifter Ali Hashemi pocketed a silver medal in the men’s 105-kilogram class.

Also on Sunday, Iranian freestyle wrestlers exhibited fine showings, and grabbed four medals.

Mojtaba Goleij won the yellow medal in the men’s 97-kilogram weight section, and Rustam Iskandari from Tajikistan clinched the silver medal.

Hossein Elyasi Chamazkoti lost to Uzbek wrestler Bekzod Abdurakhmonov 6-12 in the men's 74-kilogram final, and received a silver medal.

Nader Hajiaghania Samakoushi and Farzad Amouzadkhalili settled for a bronze medal each in the men's 57-kilogram and 65-kilogram weight categories.

Iranian Sambo practitioners Seyyed Mohammad Saeedi Madani and Iraj Amirkhani also earned two bronze medals in the men's minus 68-kilogram and minus 90-kilogram classes.

Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport. There are three main formats recognized by the Federation International Amateur Sambo (FIAS), namely Sport Sambo, Combat Sambo and Freestyle Sambo.

Sport Sambo is stylistically similar to Olympic Freestyle Wrestling or Judo, but with some differences in rules, protocol, and uniform.

Combat Sambo resembles modern mixed martial arts, including extensive forms of striking and grappling.  It was developed for military purposes.

Freestyle Sambo, which was created and debuted by the American Sambo Association (ASA) in 2004, focuses on throwing skills and fast ground work, and does not allow any strikes.

Unlike traditional Sambo, Freestyle Sambo allows choke holds and other submissions. Neck cranks and twisting foot locks are also permitted.

The 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which is the 5th edition of the continental tournament, opened in the Turkmen capital city of Ashgabat on September 17, and will finish on September 27.

Turkmenistan is on the top of the medal count table with 208 medals (79 gold, 58 silvers and 71 bronzes).

China has claimed the second spot with 62 medals (24 gold, 21 silvers, 17 bronzes), while the Islamic Republic of Iran is on the third with a total of 93 medals (22 gold, 18 silvers and 53 bronzes).

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei have earned the 4th to 10th places respectively.

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