Yazdani hit by recurring injury as milestone gold proves elusive
Wrestling sensation Hassan Yazdani will have to wait another four years to write his name into history books of the Iranian sport after a final heartbreak in the Olympic freestyle competitions in Paris.
A victory over Bulgaria’s Russian-born Magomed Ramazanov in the 86kg showdown would have seen Yazdani overtake taekwondo great Hadi Saei as the most-decorated Iranian over the 30 editions of the Games with double golds and a silver, but an old shoulder injury flared up again at the worst time imaginable to keep him at bay throughout the six minutes of action.
Pushed forward by the Iranian supporters at the Grand Palais Éphémère, Yazdani had to call for treatment on several occasions but still showed great resilience to see out the contest, though the 7-1 defeat meant Ramazanov is only the third opponent – after Russian Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov and familiar foe David Taylor, who has a 4-1 record against the Iranian in world and Olympic finals – to have claimed victory over Yazdani at major international tournaments since his senior breakthrough at the 2015 World Championships.
“He clearly had problems during the bout, which is why I’m not much delighted by the victory,” said Ramazanov, adding: “He was injured and couldn’t deliver his maximum performance. It was really tough for him, although he was still a great fighter with one arm.”
“He is a true legend. That’s what I told him at the end. I always wanted to wrestle him,” added the former European silver medalist, who only began competing under the Bulgarian flag in January.
A gold medalist in Rio 2016 and silver winner four years later in Tokyo, Yazdani was in obvious discomfort from the get-go, signaling for a timeout almost immediately after the start, clutching his upper right arm.
However, he managed to keep the score close, and even tentatively led 1-1 on criteria in the second period.
Ramazanov put the pressure on and tripped Yazdani for a takedown while trapping the Iranian’s foot underneath him at an odd angle, keeping him in a sitting position. That allowed the Bulgarian to use a crossface to tilt Yazdani backward for two exposures and a 7-1 lead.
With 30 seconds left, Yazdani conceded the defeat, putting his hands on his knees as the seconds ticked down to the inevitable, before he gave Ramazanov a hug of plaudit.
Having been sidelined for eight months after a surgery on his shoulder last October, Yazdani looked to be back in his dominant form en route to the final showpiece, defeating Australian Jayden Lawrence by superiority before comfortable victories over Dauren Kurugliev of Greece and San Marino’s Myles Amine.
“He had minor pain before the final which is normal after the surgery, but his shoulder was dislocated four to five times against the Bulgarian,” said Yazdani’s surgeon Dr. Sohrab Kayhani, who was in the venue to watch the bout.
“The first incident was enough to send any athlete to the hospital and he showed true determination to keep going for six minutes.”