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Paris 2024 wrestling: Iran's Zare bags freestyle Olympic silver, Amouzad cruises into final

Iranian freestyle wrestlers Amir Hossein Zare (L) and Rahman Amouzad Khalili

Iranian freestyle wrestler Amir Hossein Zare has displayed his captivating skills and athletic prowess at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, snatching a silver medal and raising Iran's medal tally in the prestigious multinational event.

Zare narrowly lost to Georgian counterpart Geno Petriashvili 9-10 in the finale of men’s 125-kilogram weight division at Grand Palais Éphémère in Champ de Mars of the French capital on Saturday evening.

The 23-year-old Iranian sportsman started his campaign with a 5-0 win over Kyrgyzstan’s Aiaal Lazarev in his first contest.

Iranian freestyle wrestler Amir Hossein Zare

He then overcame Canadian opponent Amar Dhesi 10-0 in the quarterfinals, before triumphing over Taha Akgül 2-1 in the semifinal. The Turkish wrestler had snatched a gold medal at the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Zare won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Earlier on Saturday, Rahman Amouzad Khalili, another Iranian freestyle wrestler competing in the 65-kilogram weight category, advanced to the 2024 Olympic Games final.

He defeated Zain Allen Retherford of the United States 8-0 in his first match.

Amouzad then beat Albanian wrestler Islam Dudaev 11-0 in the quarterfinals, and later defeated Hungary’s Iszmail Muszukajev 10-0 in the semifinal.

Iranian freestyle wrestler Rahman Amouzad Khalili (in blue singlet) competes against Albanian opponent Islam Dudaev in the 65-kilogram weight division of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, Paris, France, on August 10, 2024.

The Iranian freestyle wrester will take on Japanese opponent Kotaro Kiyooka in the title clash on Sunday.

Iran has sent 40 male and female athletes to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games in 13 sports events.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far collected a total of 9 medals – two golds, five silvers, and two bronzes – at the Games, and currently stands in the 26th place.

China leads the standings with 88 medals, including 37 golds. The United States is in the second slot with 119 medals, among them 36 golds, while Australia athletes rank third, having won 18 golds and 50 medals in total.


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