Iranian wrestler Abdevali wins gold in Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler Saeid Abdevali won a gold medal at the FILA World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul on Monday.

In the 66kg category, Abdevali defeated Manuchar Tskhadaia from Georgia and bagged the gold.

Abdevali also booked a place in the 2012 Olympic Games.

South Korea’s Hyeon-woo Kim and Cuba’s Pedro Isaac Mulens shared the bronze medal.

Rovshan Bayramov of Azerbaijan won the title in the 55kg category after beating Elbek Tazhyiev from Belarus. Shujin Li from China and Russian Bekkhan Mankiev shared the bronze.

Bulgarian Elis Guri won the gold in the 96kg category after defeating Jimmy Lidberg of Sweden. Rustam Totrov from Russia and Cenk Idem Turkey claimed the bronze.

Abdevali is the fifth Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler to win a gold medal at the World Championship. Firooz Alizadeh, Hasan Rangraz, Hamid Surian, and Amir Ali-Akbari have also won gold medals at the worlds.

More than 800 wrestlers are taking part in the FILA World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, with a chance to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.