Wrestling U15 Asian Championships:
Iran wins six medals, settles for FS third place
The freestyle event of the U15 Asian Championships in Sriracha, Thailand, was one to forget for Iran as the wrestling powerhouse finished third in the team table with six medals, including three golds.
Japan collected a remarkable six gold medals across 10 weight classes to lift the team trophy with 197 points, followed by India, which failed to win a single gold – claiming four silvers and five bronzes – but still managed to beat Iran to the runner-up place with 163 points.
The Iranian squad also bagged a silver and two bronze medals to tally 161 points.
Representing Iran in the 48kg contests, Arman Elahi came out on top against Japanese Ibuki Kamikawa 6-3 in the final showdown, while Hooman Kalhori finished his campaign with the ultimate prize of the 62kg class, thanks to a 6-0 victory over Tajikistan’s Idris Bakhromov.
Sam Daneshvar won a third gold medal for Iran when he defeated Indian Ronak Ronak 5-3 in the 85kg final.
Elsewhere, Sadra Fooladzadeh had to settle for the silver medal of the 75kg class after a 4-3 loss to Adilbek Yerbolatov in the final.
Meanwhile, Benyamin Ashofteh (38kg) and Amir-Ali Farasati (68kg) left the competitions with a couple of consolation bronzes in their respective weight classes.
The freestyle contests came after Iran had pipped Uzbekistan to the Greco-Roman crown earlier in the Thai city.
Iranian boys notched up triple golds as well as double silver and bronze medals apiece to stand atop the team podium with 170 points, with Uzbekistan finishing on 169.
Amir Kazemi (48kg), Mahdi Gholamian (62kg), and Esmaeil Nabavi (68kg) were the Iranian gold medalists, with Abolfazl Zahiri and Amirhossein Baktiarnejad taking the silvers at the 57kg and 85kg contests respectively.
Benyamin Rastgar (44kg) and Amirhossein Alvani (75kg) added two bronzes to Iran’s Greco-Roman medal haul.
The Asian age-group championships will continue with the under-20 competitions starting today, with Iran putting double team titles on the line.