3 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze for Iran

Iran opened the Cadet Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with three gold medals in all seven possible in Greco-Roman wrestling on Thursday.

According to the United World Wrestling website, the host nation along with Japan, Kazakhstan and Korea also won gold.

Amir-Reza Dehbozorgi used a four-point comeback in the final 20-seconds to grab the 45kg gold medal from Akyikat Kulzhigit Uulu of Kyrgyzstan.

Dehbozorgi trailed 5-0 late in the opening period after giving up a passivity point and two gut wrenches. He finally got on the board with a step out to end the first period. The Iranian bulldozed Kulzhigit Uulu with two high-level shots in the final 20 second of the closing period to draw the result 5-5 and take the gold medal on criteria.

Sajjad Abbaspour stopped a late surge from Iskhar Kurbayev from Kazakhstan in the 48kg gold medal bout to give Iran back-to-back continental titles.

Abbaspour’s second period takedown extended his lead to 5-0. Kurbayev picked up four points of his own and closed the gap to 5-4, but the Iranian got a front head and spun behind for the 7-4 victory.

Mohammad Nosrati gave Iran the third gold medal of the night after shutting out Kumar Nitesh of India 6-0 in the 92kg finals.

Nosrati picked up a four-point throw and immediately went into a gut, picking up the matches six points.

 Silver & Bronze Men

Shahin Badaqi succeeded in entering the finals in the 60kg category against Asilbek Nematov from the host country but failed to defeat the rival and take consolation in silver.

In 55kg Amir-Hossein Khounsari faced Davlatali Sharipov from Tajikistan to test his mettle for bronze where he humbled his rival 4-2 and grabbed the medal.

The other bronze winner, heavy-weight Mohammadreza Abdian thrashed the Kazakh rival, Radion Isozhin 11-0.

The results mean Iranian cadets bagged six medals in seven weight classes; the other participant, Iman Mohammadi lost the battle for bronze to Lazizkhon Uzbekov from Uzbekistan in the 51kg division.

The continental championships started on May 10 and will wrap up on May 13.