News / Sports

Iran’s veteran UWW Hall of Fame Khaledi dies aged 75

Sunday, 26 February 2017 10:06 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 26 February 2017 10:08 AM ]

Late Iranian international wrestling referee Mehdi Khaledi

Veteran Iranian international wrestling referee and United World Wrestling (UWW) Hall of Fame Mehdi Khaledi has passed away at the age of 75.

Khaledi lost a long battle with disease on Saturday evening, and died at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Laleh Hospital in the northwestern part of the capital, Tehran.

The late wrestling referee officiated at five editions of the Olympic Games, namely 1988 Seoul Olympics, Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games plus Athens 2004 Summer Olympics.

Khaledi carried out official duties at 36 World Championships, in addition to five Asian Games (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006).

United World Wrestling (UWW), which is the governing body for Olympic (amateur), traditional and associated wrestling styles like grappling and pankration, inducted him into the Hall of Fame Class in 2008.

The funeral procession for the veteran Iranian international wrestling referee is scheduled to be held at 9 a.m. local time (0530 GMT) on Monday in the Azadi Sport Complex.

A mourning ceremony in his commemoration is due to be held at Tehran's Shahrak-e-Gharb Grand Mosque on Wednesday.

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