Iran facing Greco-Roman 77kg dilemma after Abdi’s setback in Zagreb
Iran’s Greco-Roman head coach Hassan Rangraz is left with questions about who will be the country’s 77kg wrestler at the upcoming Olympic qualifiers after Amir Abdi’s early exit in the Zagreb Open Ranking Series event.
With three-time world bronze medalist Mohammad-Ali Geraei serving a one-year ban by the UWW, Abdi looked to be the favorite to lead the line for Iran in chasing an Olympic berth following a gold-winning run in December’s National Championships.
However, a first-round 11-3 hammering by the host’s Antonio Kamenjasevic in the Croatian capital on Friday cast major doubts over his credentials for a place in April’s Asian Olympic qualifiers in Bishkek.
Abdi will be given a second chance in March’s Yasar Dogu & Vehbi Emre tournament in Antalya, Turkey, where he will be joined by fellow-Iranian Amin Kavianinejad, who won a silver in the Asian Games last October, in the 77kg contests, with the best of the two securing a place in the Kyrgyz capital event.
Iran has already guaranteed four Greco-Roman quotas for next summer’s Paris Olympics – courtesy of medal-winning campaigns by Amin Mirzazadeh, Mohammadreza Geraei, and Mohammad-Hadi Saravi, as well as Mahdi Mohsennejad’s 60kg fifth-place in last year’s World Championships – with the 77kg, and 87kg slots still up for grabs.
Mirzazadeh defeated Turkish great Rıza Kayaalp for the 130kg gold, while reigning Olympic champion Geraei and Saravi left Belgrade with a couple of consolation bronzes in the 67kg and 97kg competitions respectively.
Alireza Mohmadi – an 82kg silver winner in Belgrade – will likely be the Iranian 87kg contestant at the Asian qualifiers, thanks to his victory over Nasser Alizadeh in the national final followed by a Zagreb Open silver.