Iran’s welterweight wushu fighter Mohsen Mohammad-Seifi grabbed his second Asiad gold at the 2014 Incheon Games on Wednesday after easily defeating his Kazakh rival in the final.
Seifi knocked out his opponent in the -65kg category of the Sanda section in two rounds to win the title and also Iran’s second gold so far at the games. To qualify for the final match, he defeated Chinese Hong Zheng in a spectacular semifinal showdown. Elaheh Mansourian of Iran’s female team came second after losing in the final to her Chinese opponent in the middleweight category. Mansourian had won a bronze medal in Guangzhou four years ago.
Alo on Wednesday, the national women’s rowing team won a bronze medal after sailing successfully along the Han River. China and Vietnam stood first and second respectively.
The 17th Asian Games kicked off in South Korea’s famous coastal city of Incheon on September 19 and will run through October 1st.
In weightlifting, which has garnered colorful medals for Iran since 2000, Kianoush Rostami grabbed a bronze medal in men’s 85-kg category.
2013 FIBA Asia Championship titlists Iran marked itself as a true contender after making short work of India, 76-41, in Group E of the 2014 Asian Games men’s basketball tournament in Incheon, Korea. Iran captain Samad Nikkhah Bahrami and former NBA player Hamed Haddadi both led the team with 16 points apiece.
The South Asian squad made a strong effort against the Asian powerhouses in the first half, trailing by just five, 30-25, in the second quarter.
But Iran closed out the period on an 8-3 run to put their lead back up to double figures, 38-28, at the halftime break.
They then dominated in the third quarter, outscoring their foes, 20-8, to turn the game into a rout.
Iranians play Filipinos for better positioning in the group’s final game Today. Iranian athletes have so far won a total of 10 medals, including 2 golds, six silvers and 2 bronze medals. No surprise so far as China tops the table with 110 medals, making a wide margin with its 54 golds.
