Iran wins second gold medal

Garaei triumphed in the men’s Greco-Roman lightweight category, defeating his opponent 9-1

Gold medallist Mohammadreza Geraei of Iran poses with his medal (REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw)

Tokyo Olympics: Mohammadreza Garaei wins Iran’s

second gold medal

Meddle East Eye

Published date: 4 August 2021 14:51 UTC | Last update: 1 day 48 mins ago

Iran’s Mohammadreza Garaei is taking home the country’s second gold medal in the 2020 Olympic games, after winning the men’s Greco-Roman lightweight category on Wednesday.

Garaei overwhelmed his Ukrainian opponent, Parviz Nasibov, defeating him 9-1.

The Iranian athlete’s achievement secured his delegation’s first gold medal in the wrestling competition and second gold of the games.

The 27-year old athlete, who goes by the nickname “The Falcon”, also won a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games and a bronze medal in both the 2017 and 2019 World Championships.

Iran secured its first gold medal of the 2020 games on 24 July when Javad Foroughi won the men’s 10m air pistol event.

The result was shrouded in controversy when Korean marksman Jin Jong-oh criticized the International Olympic Committee for allowing a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to compete. He was overheard saying, “how can a terrorist win first place? That’s the most absurd and ridiculous thing”.