Wrestling U17 Worlds:
Khalili storms to FS gold, Sayyar settles for bronze
The second day of the freestyle contests at the Wrestling U17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, saw the Iranians bag a gold and a bronze medal across five weight classes.
Having powered past opponents from Slovakia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Germany, Sina Khalili made a quick work of Russian Magomed Alibakharchiev – participating as a neutral athlete – for the 65kg gold.
The reigning Asian champion was at his defensive best and used his speed and strength for successive takedowns en route to a 10-0 victory.
Khalili’s gold continues the country’s streak of having at least one freestyle champion at the event after missing out on the gold in 2016 in Tbilisi, Georgia.
There was further glory for the Iranian squad in first five weight divisions as Sam Sayyar bounced back from a last-four setback against American Paul Kenny to outmuscle Turkmenistan’s Azymberdi Ashyrgulyyev 10-0 and grab the 48kg bronze – sharing the third podium with Joseph Bachmann of Puerto Rico, while Kenny went on to edge Japanese Yamato Furusawa for the ultimate prize.
Amir-Reza Teymourizad, meanwhile, was unfortunate to leave the competitions empty-handed after suffering a defeat against Armenian Samvel Gevorgyan in the third-place bout of the 55kg class.
Saturday’s result came after Iran had lifted the Greco-Roman trophy in Istanbul last week.
The country’s 10-man squad collected one gold and silver apiece as well as double bronze medals to top the table with 113 points – five clear of second-placed Azerbaijan which won two golds – with Georgia in third with 96 points.
Payam Ahmadi defeated Asian champion Shakhzod Ruziokhunov 4-0 to claim the 48kg gold, while Ahmadreza Mohammadian settled for the 71kg silver after a 6-5 loss to Greek wrestler Arionas Kolitsopoulos.
Alireza Amiri (45kg) and Amirhossein Abdevali (110kg) finished their campaigns with a couple of consolation bronzes.