Wrestling World Cup: No negotiations between US and Iran in Los Angeles
Iranians and Americans negotiated peacefully in Switzerland, but last weekend in Los Angeles their wrestling teams went for a complete surrender of the other, in an attempt for the title of World Champion in Freestyle Wrestling (event link).
There was much camaraderie in the Press Conference before the games and off the mat, but on the wrestling mat, it was all muscles and power in epic matches. At the end, it was Iran and United States that defeated wrestling giants like Russia, Turkey and Azarbaijan and ended up fighting for the championship title. As in 2014, Iranians came out ahead, this time a 5-3 victory over US, reclaiming their World Championship title.
Interesting scoop from behind the scenes, by Kodoom.com's reporting staff:
- The 3-1 score board in the 70 KG weight match (showing Iranian wrestler Yazdani as ahead) suddenly took 1 point away from him and gave it to the US wrestler, making it a 2-2 tie! Iranians protested and the score board returns to the original score so the black-eyed bruised Iranian wrestler regained his victory over the muscular but exhausted American wrestler (Marble).
- The majority of the 4000 seats in THE FORUM were used by loud Iranian American fans who waved flags, blew horns and sang for Iranian team but also cheered for US wrestlers. "We see more Iranians here in Los Angeles than any other City.. It’s like wrestling in Tehran," said Iranian 61kg wrestler Behnam EHSANPOOR. With an estimated one million Iranian Americans, California is now home to the largest population of Iranians in diaspora, who have, regardless of their political backgrounds, historically supported Iranian teams visiting the United States. In the 1970's, Iran helped US Wrestling Federation train athletes and initiate professional programs across America.
- There were reports of a brawl involving a knife-wielding member of Russian wrestling team in a local hotel. Russia lost the consolation match for third-place to Azerbaijan by technical points.
- The announcer's 15-second warning in English prompted objection by some Iranian fans and officials who considered that an unfair advantage for English speaking wrestlers (Americans).
- It is reported that Iran's state-run TV censored the scene of the 86-Kg match in which the female referee held up Meysam Mostafa Jokar's hand as victor. Hardcore conservatives in Iran consider touching hands of a stranger woman a sin.
Most photos courtesy of John Sachs, Ken Coburn and Milena Wick at Tech-fall.com.
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