AMMAN, Jordan – Iran wrestlers never fail to put on a show and Saturday was no different as the country won three gold medals on the penultimate day of the U-20 World Wrestling Championships in Amman, Jordan.
After sweeping the Freestyle team title earlier this week, Iran got going in Greco-Roman adding 105 points after five weight classes and steering clear of other countries for the team title.
The gold rush was led by rising start Ahmadreza Mohsennejhad at 63kg. He wrestled 2022 U-17 Asian champion Zhantoro Mirzaliev from Kyrgyzstan in the gold medal bout and came out 9-0 on top.
Alireza Abdevali won the second gold for Iran after defeating Moldova’s Alexandru Solovei in the 77kg final. Abdevali denied Solovei a chance to create history for Moldova, beating him 1-1 in the 77kg final.
By winning the final, Abdevali also avenged his 2021 U-17 World Championships final’s loss to Solovei. That was also a similar final in which the criteria were with Solovei, giving the Moldovan a gold medal.
Iran turned its focus to Fardin Hedayati as he was wrestling for the 130kg for the second straight year. While he suffered a heartbreaking loss in Sofia last year, Hedayati made sure there was no such drama this time around.
It was in Amman a month ago that Hedayati rocked Wenhao Jiang from China in the 130kg final. Jiang was hoping to at least close the gap between the two wrestlers if not win the gold. But there was no change in the result as Hedayati beat Jiang 8-0 to win the gold medal and put behind the disappointment from last year. Hedayati scored four steptous and two takedowns in the 8-0 win over Jiang.
In his four bouts in Amman, Hedayati outscored his opponents 32-0 which also means that he was not in par terre for being passive even once. For the final, Hedayati was aware of Jiang’s style which made it easier for him to prepare for the gold medal bout.