News / Sports

Iranian freestyle wrestling icon Abbas Zandi dies aged 87

Monday, 30 October 2017 10:13 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 30 October 2017 10:15 AM ]

Veteran Iranian wrestler and head coach of the Iran’s national freestyle wrestling teams, Abbas Zandi

Veteran Iranian wrestler and head coach of the Iran’s national freestyle wrestling teams, Abbas Zandi, has lost a long battle with disease and passed away at the age of 87.

Zandi died at his home in the Iranian capital city of Tehran late on Sunday.

The late Iranian freestyle wrestler, who was born on June 3, 1930, became one of the Iran national freestyle wrestling athletes at 17.

He achieved the Pahlevan of Iran title a year later.

Zandi claimed the top spot in the 79-kilogram weight division of the 1954 World Freestyle Wrestling Championship in Tokyo, Japan.

This file photo shows late Iranian freestyle wrestler Abbas Zandi.

He also stood atop the podium in the over 87-kilogram section of the 1958 Asian Games, officially known as the Third Asian Games and commonly as Tokyo 1958.

Furthermore, Zandi competed in 1948 London, 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, but did not manage to collect a medal.

The Iranian freestyle wrestling icon led Iran’s national freestyle wrestling teams during the 1962 FILA Wrestling World Championships in Toledo, the United States, Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games and Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.

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