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Iran's Soryan favourite for gold

Iran's Hamid Soryan, three-time world champion in the 55kg Greco-Roman category, in a strong position to win Iran a gold medal.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 00:02 August 10, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: AP
  • Iran's Hamid Soryan Reihanpour (in blue) wrestles with South Korea's Park Eun-chol in this September, 2007 file photo.

Beijing: Iran's Hamid Soryan, three-times world champion in the bantamweight 55kg Greco-Roman category, goes into battle on Tuesday looking in a strong position to win his country's sixth gold medal in wrestling.

Soryan took the world and Asian titles last year, but will face some strong competition from Eun-chol Park of South Korea, who has won two world silver medals and a world bronze medal in the last three years.

Cuba's Yagniel Hernandez won the 2007 Pan American Games and 2008 Pan American Championships in this weight and will fancy his chances along with 22-year-old American Spenser Mango.

In the featherweight, 60kg category, Georgia's David Bedinadze looks a strong contender.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria remains, despite being 34, a serious contender.

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