Iran grabbed the second gold medal in two days as Sohrab Moradi managed to win in the Men’s 94 kg weightlifting category at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 13.
Moradi’s first lift in the clean and jerk was enough to fetch him the gold. After hoisting 221 kilograms, and with the other competitors failing to lift higher weights, Moradi made two attempts to establish a new World Record of 233kg, but could not secure the weights, although he had earlier accomplished the feat at an Iranian national competition. So he finished with a 403 kg total (including 182 kg weight in the snatch).
Earlier on Friday, Kianoush Rostami broke a world record in the 85 kg category and won Iran’s first gold in the event. Rostami predicted more glory for the country, and it was soon achieved by Moradi who faced no difficulty in the challenge and finished clear of his rivals, Mehr News Agency reported.
Just like Rostami’s competition, there were many Iranians to support Moradi, 27, at the stadium in a crowd of more than 5,000.
Vadzim Straltsou of Belarus bagged silver with a total of 395 kg and Lithuania’s Aurimas Didzbalis took bronze with 392 kg.
Eliminated on Doping Charges
The entry in the 94 kg category had other famous weightlifters that were eliminated from the games because of doping charges. Polish brothers Tomasz and Adrian Zielinski were removed from competition due to positive doping tests taken earlier this summer. Georgian Rauli Tsirekidze was excluded after testing positive in the reanalysis of samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. The 2012 champion Ilya Ilyin from Kazakhstan and world record holder for 94 kg was also missing as he failed retests of samples from his 2008 and 2012 Olympic wins.
Iranian weightlifters can achieve a record-breaking three weightlifting golds at the Olympics if Behdad Salimi retains his super-heavyweight title on Tuesday. “Now my wish is that Behdad wins his second gold medal, and makes it three for Iran,” Moradi said.
Further, Iran’s volleyball national team qualified for the quarterfinals after beating Egypt 3-0. Showing a fine performance, they will meet Russia on Monday in the last match of the preliminary round in Pool B and will find out what team from Pool A (Italy, France, Canada, Brazil or the US) they will battle in the next level. There will be three games to a colorful medal, which if reached will be the first Olympic medal for Iran in a team sport.
Iran is also awaiting the start of free style and Greco Roman wrestling competitions where they have many favorites who are expected to win at least six gold medals if not more.
Now with two gold medals, Iran stands 21st in the overall medal standings.
