IRAN’S SORYAN FAVORITE FOR GOLD
By Simon Evans

Reuters
Aug 8 2008
UK

BEIJING (Reuters) Iran’s Hamid Soryan, three-times world champion
in the bantamweight 55kg Greco-Roman category, goes into battle on
Tuesday looking in a strong position to win his country’s sixth gold
medal in wrestling.

Soryan took the world and Asian titles last year, but will face some
strong competition from Eun-chol Park of South Korea, who has won two
world silver medals and a world bronze medal in the last three years.

Cuba’s Yagniel Hernandez won the 2007 Pan American Games and 2008
Pan American Championships in this weight and will fancy his chances
along with 22-year-old American Spenser Mango.

In the featherweight, 60kg category, Georgia’s David Bedinadze looks
a strong contender having won the world title in 2007 and finishing
second this year.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria remains,
despite being 34, a serious contender.

He won gold in the 48-52kg category competing for Armenia in Atlanta
in 1996 and then again four years later for Bulgaria in the 54-58kg
and also claimed a bronze in that weight in Athens.
From: Baghdasarian