Alireza Karimi wins silver at Matteo Pellicone

In the final of men’s 97kg category, Karimi suffered a 3-3 criteria defeat against U23 World silver medalist Kollin Moore of the USA.

“Both wrestlers exchanged a point each for step out before the Iranian scored a takedown to lead 3-1. His continued pressure on Moore was about to pay off with a step out but the American survived the push and countered with a double leg to score a takedown. That give him the lead on criteria and the gold in Rome,” reads a report by the UWW press service.

Kazakhstan’s Alisher Yergali and USA’s Hayden Nicholas Zillmer won bronze medals in this category.

Karimi had downed Zillmer 6-2 and Turkey’s Ibrahim Ciftci 10-0 in the path to the final.

Podium of 97kg (By Kadir Caliskan / UWW)