Iran Beats US in Wrestling World Cup
By: Fox News
Updated: February 21, 2013
Iran defeated the United States in the fourth round of the Wrestling World Cup Thursday after winning six out of seven individual matches in the event held in Tehran's Azadi Sport Complex, a U.S. wrestling official told FoxNews.com.
The U.S. team had defeated Georgia and Japan in previous rounds, however, only wrestler Jordan Burroughs, who is in the 163-pound weight class, was able to score a victory over his Iranian opponent Ezzatollah Akbarizarinkolaei .
The Wrestling World Cup, which changes venue each year, is an annual event that draws wrestlers from around the globe and, in some minds, offers the rare opportunity to put politics aside for sport.
Gary Abbott, the director of communication from USA Wrestling, said political views stay well off the mats.
"I have very close friends who are journalists in Iran," he said, before pointing out that the three strongest countries in wrestling are ironically the U.S., Iran and Russia, with North Korea not too far behind. "The sport breaks down barriers."
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