Iran wins championship in Greco-Roman style ahead of Russia

TEHRAN, Sep. 15 (MNA) – Iran’s national Greco-Roman wrestlers have rewritten history with championship in a world event in Uzbekistan ahead of Russia. Hamid Sourian (59Kg.) won the gold; Omid Nowrouzi (66Kg.) brought silver to Iran’s camp, and Afshin Biabangard (71Kg.) and Qasem Rezaei (98Kg.) won two bronzes. Iran stood ahead of Russia in ranking with 42 points to grab the championship. 56th Greco-Roman World Championship was held in Gymnastics Palace Sports Hall in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Sep. 13-15. The championship kicked off for the first time in 1904; however, Iran was a debutant only in 1961 in Yokohama, Japan, where Alireza Qelichkhani won a single bronze for Iran. In past 16 world championships, Iran had not been champion. In 2009, led by Mohammad Bana, Iran’s Greco-Roman stylers came second where Sourian was a gold winner, and Farshad Alizadeh, Habibillah Akhlaqi, and Amir Ali Akbari. In London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Iran did win the championship with Sourian, Nowrouzi, and Rezaei winning golds. Iran has won a total of 27 medals in all Greco-Roman wrestling world championships; 11 gold, 4 silver, and 13 bronze medals. Among notable honors Iran awarded is a third place in Istanbul 2011, and two 8th places in Moscow 2010 and Hungary 2013 events. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and Iran President Hassan Rouhani also sent congratulation notes to the national Greco-Roman wrestlers over the victory.