Wrestling U17 World Championships:
Afshar grabs gold as Iran wins three freestyle medals
Reza Afshar walked away with the ultimate prize of the 80kg contests as Iran collected three freestyle medals across five weight classes at the Wrestling U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan.
The Iranian prodigy claimed emphatic victories over opponents from Macedonia, Armenia, Romania, and the United States before rounding off his campaign with a win against Georgian Nikoloz Maisuradze.
Both wrestlers were put on the activity clock in a cagy showdown with Asfshar taking the criteria lead in the second period before he held off the Georgian as it finished 1-1.
This was a second final showpiece featuring an Iranian on Saturday after Amirabbas Alizadeh fell short against Uzbekistan’s Ulugbek Rashidov in the 48kg event.
Alizadeh enjoyed a decent run toward the final, defeating wrestlers from Peru, Ukraine, and the US, but Rashidov proved to be in a league of his own as he capped the decider in a minute and 47 seconds with technical superiority.
Abolfazl Mohammadnejad won a third freestyle medal for the country in Amman – a consolation bronze in the 110kg contests.
The Iranian began his campaign with a 6-4 win against Russian Ali Bairamukov, participating as a neutral athlete, and then came out victorious against Canada’s Jagroop Dhinsa (11-0) before suffering a 4-3 loss to Yedige Kassimbek of Kazakhstan in the semifinals.
Mohammadnejad managed to bounce back for a 2-1 win against India’s Singh Jaspooran and share the third podium with Azerbaijan’s Mukhamed Gantemirov.
Meanwhile, American Michael Mocco introduced himself as a rising superheavyweight star when he cruised to the gold with four superiority wins – including a 10-0 hammering of Kassimbek in the final.
Elsewhere, Iranians Aryan Mehralizadeh and Yassin Tayyebi finished the world championships empty-handed after defeats in the 55kg and 65kg events respectively.
Greco-Roman crown
Saturday’s results came after the Iranian Greco-Roman squad had lifted a third successive team trophy at the U17 Worlds.
Iranians won three golds and bronzes apiece to finish atop the table with 140 points, with Uzbekistan (113pts) and Azerbaijan (105pts) in the following spots.
Armin Shamsipour dominated the 48kg contests, outscoring his opponents 37-1 in four bouts – including a 10-1 triumph over Uzbekistan’s Khusniddin Abdukarimov in the final.
Amir-Mahdi Saeidinava clinched a second Greco-Roman gold for Iran, thanks to a 6-2 win against Ukrainian Vladyslav Pokotylo in the 65kg showdown, while Danial Izadi defeated German Ole Ayke Sterning 4-0 for the 92kg title.
Abolfazl Karami (51kg), Emadreza Mohsennejad (80kg), and Ali-Asghar Dadbakhsh were the Irania bronze medalist in the Greco-Roman competitions.