Hamid Sourian ends 40-year Greco-Roman title drought for Iran

TEHRAN,Aug.6(MNA)--Hamid Sourian won Iran’s first gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the Olympic Games in 40 years. The 26-year-old defeated Rovshan Bayramov of Azerbaijan 2-0, 1-0 Sunday in men’s 55kg Greco-Roman. Bronze medal went to Peter Modos of Hungary and Mingiyan Semenov of Russia. Sourian, the five-time world champion, defeated Peter Modos in the quarterfinals and Haakan Nyblom from Denmark in the semifinals. Iran had not won a medal in the Olympic Games since Rahim Aliabadi at 48kg claimed a silver medal in 1972. “I’ve completed my collection. I am happy that I have made the Iranian people happy. Now, I’m thinking about competing in next Olympics,” Sourian said. Sourian finished in fifth place in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games after a defeat in the quarter-finals.