Iran's Soryan favourite for gold

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.