Iran’s Rezaei wins 96kg Greco-Roman Olympic gold

TEHRAN,Aug.10(MNA)--Iran’s Ghasem Rezaei claimed an Olympic gold medal in the men's 96-Kg Greco-Roman wrestling on Tuesday. Rezaei gave his country their third wrestling gold of the London Games. The Iranian defeated Russia's Rustam Totrov 2-0, 1-0 in the final of the weight class. “I am so happy since Iran overtook Russia in Greco-Roman wrestling. After Beijing 2008 I was forced to stay at home for two years and I was waiting for the London Olympic Games to prove myself. I am so happy that I’ve made my nation happy,” Rezaei said. Rezaei had finished in 16th place in Beijing four years ago. Rezaei had defeated the Armenian favorite Artur Aleksanyan in the quarterfinals and Cuba's Yunior Estrada Falcon in the semifinals. Totrov won bronze at the world championships in 2011 and was among the favorites to pick up a gold medal in London. Hamid Sourian and Omid Noroozi had already won golds in the 55kg and 60kg classes, respectively. Iran has not won a medal in the Greco-Roman wrestling event in the Olympic Games since Rahim Aliabadi took the silver medal in the 48Kg category in 1972.