25th Summer Deaflympics:
Siahvashi wins freestyle gold as Iran secures wrestling team titles
Mohammad Siahvashi headlined Iran’s medal hunt at the Tokyo Summer Deaflympics on Monday, capturing the 57kg freestyle wrestling gold.
The Iranian defeated opponents from Bulgaria and Armenia before overcoming Kazakhstan’s Gabit Yeszhanov 7-2 in the final showdown.
Siahvashi’s triumph capped an emphatic wrestling campaign for the country, which secured both the freestyle and Greco-Roman team titles at the multi-sport event.
Meanwhile, Kayvan Rostamabadi (65kg), Abolfazl Zohrevand (74kg), and Mohammad Qamarpour (125kg) settled for silver in their respective weight classes, while Erfan Sattari bagged a consolation bronze in the 97kg event, as Iran added five medals to the six won in Greco-Roman competition.
Meysam Dezfuli (87kg) and Abuzar Rabizadeh (97kg) were Iran’s Greco-Roman gold medalists on Saturday, with Mahdi Bakhshi securing silver in the 67kg class.
Sadeq Abolvafaei (60kg), Mohammad Zara’atpisheh (77kg), and Mohammadreza Sha’bani suffered semifinal setbacks to finish with joint bronze medals.
Elsewhere, Milad Sadeqzadeh took Iran’s medal tally to 30 after claiming bronze in karate with an 8-0 victory over his Malaysian opponent in the men’s -60kg event.
Sara Adria also secured a kumite bronze following a narrow 7-6 defeat to Japan’s Ryo Ogura in the women’s -61kg semifinals.
Zahra Zoleikani and Mahdi Pouresmaeil delivered double gold for Iran in taekwondo on Sunday, triumphing in the women’s -57kg and men’s -58kg divisions respectively.
Iran is represented by 83 athletes – including 19 women – competing in football, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, athletics, karate, taekwondo, shooting, judo, bowling, badminton, table tennis, swimming, and beach volleyball at the 25th edition of the Summer Deaflympics.
Iran achieved its best medals-table finish at the previous edition in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, placing fourth with 14 golds, 12 silvers, and 14 bronzes.