Iranians Pay Tribute to Legendary Wrestler Gholamreza Takhti (+Photos)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran commemorated 49th anniversary of legendary wrestler Gholamreza Takhti’s death on Friday.
President of Iran Wrestling Federation Rasoul Khadem, Olympics champion Greco-Roman wrestler Hamid Sourian, Ex-president of Iran Wrestling Federation Mohammadreza Taleghani, a number of sports officials and several hundred people participated at the ceremony held at Ibn-e Babawayh cemetery in southern Tehran.
Takhti was born in Tehran on August 27, 1930 and was found dead in a hotel room on January 7, 1968. He is commemorated by Iranians every year.
Takhti won the gold medal in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, after defeating Boris Kulayev from Soviet Union in the final match.
He also claimed two Olympics silver medals in 1952 Helsinki and 1960 Rome. Takhti won two World Championships gold medals in 1959 Tehran and 1961 Yokohama.
The freestyle wrestler also seized a gold medal in the 1958 Asian Games held in Tokyo, Japan.
