Iranian Sambo practitioners claim 3 more medals

Iranian Sambo practitioners continue their fine performances at the 2016 Asian Sambo Championship in Turkmenistan and pocketed three more medals, including one gold.

On Sunday, Behnam Hodhodi Abkenar outmuscled Uzbek contestant Olim Khudaykulov 4-0 and fetched the senior gold medal for the Islamic Republic of Iran in the over 100-kilogram weight class at the Ashgabat Olympic Complex.

Earlier in the day, Zaman Taghizadeh prevailed over Shakhriyor Gafforov from Uzbekistan 3-1 in his repechage, and snatched a bronze medal.

Masoud Ghodrati also claimed a bronze for Iran in the combat senior men’s minus 68-kilogram weight class.

Previously, Hossein Tolou’ Sabouti suffered a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Uzbek opponent Ozodbek Bakoev in the final bout of the men's youth over 87-kilogram weight category at the Ashgabat Olympic Complex and was awarded a silver medal.

Additionally, Iman Pajouhideh and Ayoub Fahimi earned two bronze medals in the combat senior men’s minus 62-kilogram and combat senior men’s minus 82-kilogram divisions on Sunday.

Hamed Abbasi and Iraj Amirkhani also pocketed two bronze medals for Iran in combat senior men’s over 100-kilogram and sport senior men’s minus 100-kilogram weight classes.

On Saturday, Iranian Sambo athletes Aref Kazemi Toushen scooped a bronze medal in men’s youth minus 65-kilogram section. Abbas Alizadeh had clinched a bronze in the men’s combat senior minus 100-kilogram the previous day.

The 2016 Asian Sambo Championship kicked off in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on May 26 and concluded on May 30.

A total of 400 male and female Sambo practitioners from seventeen Asian countries, including Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, took part in the event.

Turkmenistan topped the medal count table with a total of 66 (21 golds, 26 silvers and 19 bronzes), and Uzbekistan stood second with 55 (20 golds, eighteen silvers and seventeen bronzes).

Kazakhstan occupied the third spot with 20 gold, ten silver and 13 bronze medals.

The Islamic Republic of Iran finished in the fifth place, having earned one gold, one silver and eight bronze medals.

Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport. There are three main formats recognized by the Federation International Amateur Sambo (FIAS), namely Sport Sambo, Combat Sambo and Freestyle Sambo.

Sport Sambo is stylistically similar to Olympic Freestyle Wrestling or Judo, but with some differences in rules, protocol, and uniform.

Combat Sambo resembles modern mixed martial arts, including extensive forms of striking and grappling.  It was developed for military purposes.

Freestyle Sambo, which was created and debuted by the American Sambo Association (ASA) in 2004, focuses on throwing skills and fast ground work, and does not allow any strikes.

Unlike traditional Sambo, Freestyle Sambo allows choke holds and other submissions. Neck cranks and twisting foot locks are also permitted.

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