Iranian Athletes Shine at 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with Eight Medals Earned!

According to SAEDNEWS, Led by Hassan Rangraz, the Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling team has made a spectacular mark at the Paris Olympics, securing two gold medals along with one silver and one bronze. This impressive performance has not only showcased Iran's prowess in Greco-Roman wrestling but also solidified its reputation on the global stage, inspiring a new generation of young wrestlers to dream big.

Among the standout athletes was Saeid Esmaeli, the youngest member of the Iranian contingent, who demonstrated extraordinary maturity and skill. His path to gold in the 67kg category was paved with decisive victories over tough competitors, including Algeria’s Ishak Ghaiou, Cuba’s Luis Orta, and Armenia’s Slavik Galstyan. In a thrilling final against Ukraine’s Parviz Nasibov, Esmaeli displayed remarkable technique and composure, clinching the gold medal with a narrow 6-5 victory.

Veteran wrestler Mohammadhadi Saravi also shone brightly, delivering an impressive performance throughout the tournament. His technical prowess and aggressive strategies propelled him past early opponents, and he faced Armenia’s Artur Aleksanyan in the final. Saravi's relentless quest for points led to a commanding 4-1 victory, earning him another gold for Iran.

In the heavyweight category, Amin Mirzazadeh showcased incredible heart and resilience. After suffering an early defeat, he forged his way through the repechage bracket to claim a bronze medal. His thrilling victory over Azerbaijan’s Sabah Shariati in the bronze medal match was a standout moment for the Iranian team.

In freestyle wrestling, Hassan Yazdani also made headlines, earning a silver medal in the 86kg category. Despite grappling with a hand injury sustained early in his match, Yazdani pushed through, though he ultimately lost to Bulgaria's Magomed Ramazanov with a score of 7-1 in the final. His journey to the finals included a remarkable 10-0 victory against Jayden Lawrence of Australia, followed by wins over Greek wrestler Dauren Kurugliev (9-4) and San Marino’s Myles Amine (7-1). This medal marked Yazdani’s third Olympic achievement, having previously won gold in 2016 and silver in Tokyo.

In taekwondo, Iranian female athletes also made history by clinching two significant medals. Mobina Nematzadeh achieved a bronze medal in the women's 49kg category at the iconic Grand Palais in Paris. She earned her bronze by defeating Saudi Arabia’s athlete 2-0 and had earlier bested Lesotho’s Michelle TauIn and Spain’s Adriana Cerezo Iglesias, a formidable contender with a silver medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Nahid Kiani added to Iran's success by capturing a silver medal in the women's -57kg taekwondo event. In the final, she faced South Korea’s Kim Yu-jin and, despite her efforts, was defeated 2-0 (5-1, 9-0). Kiani's journey included wins over Bulgaria’s Kimia Alizadeh, Tunisia’s Chaima Toumi, and Lebanon’s Laetitia Aoun in the earlier rounds.

Finally, Mehran Barkhordari also contributed to Iran's medal tally with a silver in the Men's 80kg category, though he fell to Tunisia's Firas Katoussi in the finals. His road to the final included victories against Uzbekistan’s Jasurbek Jaysunov, Italy’s Simone Alessio, and South Korea’s Seo Geon-woo.

Overall, the performance of the Iranian athletes at the Paris Olympics has been both commendable and inspiring, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

credits: tehran times