Political disagreements have once again affected the sports arena. According to the New York Times, Iranian wrestler Alireza Karimihiani deliberately lost a match to a Russian opponent following his coach’s instructions. Interestingly, at the championship held in Poland on November 25, during the gold medal bout, the Iranian was winning against Russian Alikhan Zhabrailov. However, at one point, he stopped attacking and began to expose himself, allowing the opponent to win.
What is the dispute between Russia and Iran, considering they are two friendly global powers? It’s simple – the Iranian athlete’s next opponent in the World Wrestling Championship will be an Israeli, who previously defeated an American wrestler. This is where politics begins, which troubles the peaceful residents of both countries. Iranian authorities prohibit athletes from participating in matches against representatives of hostile states, urging them to avoid competitions or simulate injuries.
According to the athlete, the coach ordered him to lose the match. Notably, there are no statements from the coach in the media. Karimihiani also complained to journalists about the lack of results at the World Wrestling Championship, which has been politicized and prevents athletes from competing honestly. Months of training for a gold medal ended in failure.
