03:51No access: Israel Media/Persian Language TV Stations Outside Iran/Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV
Iranian Olympic karate athlete Sajad Ganjazadeh was received by a welcoming party at Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran on Wednesday.
The athlete returned from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a gold medal following his victory against Saudi Arabia’s Tareg Hamedi on August 7.
Hamedi was disqualified from the men’s over-75kg final against Ganjazadeh after kicking the Iranian athlete in the neck, which referees classified as a rule breach.
The kick brought Ganjazadeh down onto the floor, causing the Iranian athlete to lose consciousness.
“When he fell and did not get up, we said that something must have happened to him. I had a bad feeling”, commented Shahram Heravi, head coach at Iran’s national karate team.
“But thank God, I went and saw that the doctors said that the danger had passed and told him that he had won the game and he was happy”, added Heravi.
Heravi also noted that he did not believe the kick was done ‘on purpose’.
Ganjzadeh was carried away from the fight on stretchers and following medical examination, was allowed to collect his medal at the podium alongside his Saudi.
Iran: Olympic karate athlete Sajad Ganjazadeh brings gold medal home
Iranian Olympic karate athlete Sajad Ganjazadeh was received by a welcoming party at Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran on Wednesday.
The athlete returned from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a gold medal following his victory against Saudi Arabia’s Tareg Hamedi on August 7.
Hamedi was disqualified from the men’s over-75kg final against Ganjazadeh after kicking the Iranian athlete in the neck, which referees classified as a rule breach.
The kick brought Ganjazadeh down onto the floor, causing the Iranian athlete to lose consciousness.
“When he fell and did not get up, we said that something must have happened to him. I had a bad feeling”, commented Shahram Heravi, head coach at Iran’s national karate team.
“But thank God, I went and saw that the doctors said that the danger had passed and told him that he had won the game and he was happy”, added Heravi.
Heravi also noted that he did not believe the kick was done ‘on purpose’.
Ganjzadeh was carried away from the fight on stretchers and following medical examination, was allowed to collect his medal at the podium alongside his Saudi.
No access: Israel Media/Persian Language TV Stations Outside Iran/Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV
Iranian Olympic karate athlete Sajad Ganjazadeh was received by a welcoming party at Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran on Wednesday.
The athlete returned from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a gold medal following his victory against Saudi Arabia’s Tareg Hamedi on August 7.
Hamedi was disqualified from the men’s over-75kg final against Ganjazadeh after kicking the Iranian athlete in the neck, which referees classified as a rule breach.
The kick brought Ganjazadeh down onto the floor, causing the Iranian athlete to lose consciousness.
“When he fell and did not get up, we said that something must have happened to him. I had a bad feeling”, commented Shahram Heravi, head coach at Iran’s national karate team.
“But thank God, I went and saw that the doctors said that the danger had passed and told him that he had won the game and he was happy”, added Heravi.
Heravi also noted that he did not believe the kick was done ‘on purpose’.
Ganjzadeh was carried away from the fight on stretchers and following medical examination, was allowed to collect his medal at the podium alongside his Saudi.