Wrestling U20 World Championships:
Setback in Samokov as Iran falls short of gold in four divisions
Iran got off to an under-par start at the Wrestling U20 World Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, as the country failed to win a freestyle gold medal across four weight classes on Monday.
There was, however, some consolation for the Iranian squad – three-time freestyle champion over the past four editions – after Abolfazl Mohammadnejad settled for a silver medal in the 125kg contests, while Ebrahim Elahi finished with a bronze in the 70kg category.
Mohammadnejad enjoyed an impressive start to his superheavyweight campaign, outmuscling Ukrainian Ivan Myroshnychenko (7-0) and French wrestler Levan Lagvilava (11-4), before edging Azerbaijan’s Yusif Dursunov on criteria (1-1) to set a final date with Yedige Kassimbek of Kazakhstan.
Having suffered three losses in as many previous meetings with the Kazakh wrestler, Mohammadnejad thought he may have a chance to change that record when he went up 1-0 in the final after Kassimbek failed to score on the activity clock. The second period, however, was all about Kassimbek as he got a takedown and then turned the Iranian, wrapping Mohammadnejad’s legs around his head, for two points to win 4-1.
Elahi, meanwhile, bounced back from a last-four criteria defeat (2-2) against American Peter John Duke to beat France’s Abdoullah Nakaev 6-4 and share the third podium with Nurlan Aghazada of Azerbaijan, while Duke went on to defeat Moldovan Alexandr Gaidarli 7-5 in the final.
Elsewhere, Erfan Alizadeh – an Asian U20 champion in July – crashed out in the round of 16 following a 7-5 loss to Nikolaos Karavanos of Greece in the 97kg class.
Mohammad-Mahdi Mamivand also finished his 74kg empty-handed – courtesy of a 9-8 setback against Italian Raul Caso in the last 16.
The freestyle competitions will be followed by the women’s wrestling event in Samokov, before the Iranian Greco-Roman squad begins its bid for a fourth successive team title at the U20 Worlds on Friday.