Iran’s Goudarzi wins silver in freestyle wrestling

Iranian freestyle wrestler Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi has won the silver medal in the men’s 74-kilogram category at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Iranian lost 3-0 to gold medal winner Jordan Ernest Burroughs of the United States in the final of the category at the Excel Center in London on Friday; his second defeat of goudarzi in as many years defending his title as the top ranked Freestyle wrestler in his weight group.

Goudarzi overpowered Bulgaria’s Kiril Stoychev Terziev 3-1 in his first match before beating Soslan Tigiev of Uzbekistan 3-1 in the quarterfinals. He defeated Gabor Hatos of Hungary 3-0 in the semifinals. 

Burroughs landed a $250,000 bonus as the USA Wrestling Federation promised any wrestler with gold; becoming the United States' first wrestling champion of London 2012.

Iran now stands in 14th place in gold medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games and in 18th place overall on the medals table with a tally of four gold medals, five silver medals, and one bronze medal.