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Hajizavareh Trying to Complete his Achievements
In the third part of the report regarding the invited athletes to 2015 Grand Prix Final, we introduce the athletes in -80 kg. Iran has 2 representatives in this weight category: Mahdi Khodabakhshi, rank 1, and Masoud Hajizavareh, rank 5.
Unfortunately, Mahdi Khodabakhshi is not able to participate in GP Final due to leg injury. Iran, Moldova and Russia’s Olympic Games quota is confirmed now. One of the countries among England, Mexico, Germany and Ivory Coast will be omitted.
Who are the 9 top ranked athletes of -80 kg?
Rank 1
Mahdi KHODABAKHSHI from Iran (24 years old)
Significant achievements: Gold medal of 2015 World Championships, Gold medal of 2014 Asian Championships and Asian games, 3 Gold medals, 1 Silver medal and 1 Bronze medal of 2014 and 2015 GPs.
Mahdi was injured in ankle 45 days ago in his fight with English Lutalo MUHAMMAD in Manchester GP. As he is not fully recovered, he cannot participate in 2015 Final GP. Mahdi’s Olympic Games quota is confirmed without needing to gain any more ranking points. He has 81 points difference from the second ranked athlete in -80 kg.
Mahdi has had an eye-catching performance in the last 2 years. He succeeded in winning 10 Gold medals, 2 Silver medals and 1 Bronze medal since 2013.
Rank 2
Aaron COOK from Moldova 24 years old)
Significant achievements: Bronze medal of 2015 World Championships, Gold medal of 2010, 2012 and 2014 European Championships, 1 Gold medal, 2 Silver medals and 1 Bronze medal of 2013, 2014 and 2015 GPs, Participation in Beijing Olympic Games.
Aaron started collecting ranking points in Man Island National team but he changed his nationality and joined Moldova. In order to gain the Gold medal of 2015 Final GP, Aaron has to overcome Cheick Sallah CISSE FROM Ivory Coast. He is going to face the winner of the match between Masoud HAJIZAVAREH from Iran and the representative of England.
In the last 2 years, Aaron had 2 wins and 1 loss against the representatives of Iran.
Rank 3
Albert GAUN from Russia (23 years old)
Significant achievements: Silver medal of 2013 World Championships, Bronze medal of 2015 World Championships, Gold medal of 2014 European Championships, Silver medal of 2015 European Games, 1 Gold medal and 2 Silver medals of 2013 and 2014 GPs.
Albert’s quota of 2016 Olympic Games is confirmed now. He could win against Mahdi KHODABAKHSHI in 2014 Final GP. If Albert can win against the representative of Mexico and the winner of the match between England and Germany, he will face HAJIZAVAREH in the final round.
Rank 4
Lutalo MUHAMMAD from England (24 years old)
Significant achievements: Bronze medal of 2012 Olympic Games, Gold medal of 2012 European Championships, Bronze medal of 2014 European Championships, 1 Gold medal and 1 Silver medal of 2013 and 2014 GPs.
Lutalo, who injured Mahdi KHODABAKHSHI in Manchester GP, is supposed to fight with the representative of Germany in his first match. In the last 2 years, he has fought with Iranian athletes for 5 times which resulted in 4 losses and 1 win.
Lutalo does not want to lose his second chance for entering the Olympic Games. After Germany, he will face the winner of the match between Mexico and Russia. If he proceeds to the final round, he will fight with the representative of Iran, Moldova or Ivory Coast.
Rank 5
Masoud HAJIZAVAREH from Iran (27 years old)
Significant achievements: Gold medal of 2015 World Championships, Gold medal of 2010 Asian Championships, Silver medal of 2012 Asian Championships, Gold medal of 2014 Asian Games, 2 Bronze medals of 2014 and 2015 GPs.
Masoud was a successful athlete during last 2 years. In Final GP, he is going to meet Damon SANSUM from England in his first match. Masoud could win over Damon 15-13 in Samsun GP. In his second match, Masoud will face the representatives of Moldova and Ivory Coast.
Masoud is trying to gain the gold medal of this event to complete his achievements.
Rank 6
Damon SANSUM from England (28 years old)
Significant achievements: Silver medal of 2015 World Championships, Silver medal of 2014 European Championships, Bronze medal of 2014 GP.
Damon began 2015 with Silver medal of 2015 World Championships but he had no achievements in 2015 GPs. He has to win over Masoud HAJIZAVAREH to proceed to next matches. He hopes to outperform the other representative of England to represent his country in Rio 2016.
Rank 7
Tahir GUELEC from Germany (22 years old)
Significant achievements: Gold medal of 2013 World Championships, Bronze medal of 2015 World Championships, Bronze medal of 2014 GP.
Tahir will face Lutalo MUHAMMAD from England in his first match. He did not have a good performance in 2015 and had no achievements in 3 GPs. If he wins the first fight, he will meet the winner of the match between Mexico and Russia.
Rank 8
Rene LIZARRAGA from Mexico (22 years old)
Significant achievements: Gold medal of 2014 Pan American Championships, Bronze medal of 2015 Pan American Games.
Rene has not had any achievements in GPs so far and seems to have a slim chance in comparison with other invited athletes to 2015 Final GP. He will fight against the representative of Russia in his first match and in case he cannot win, he will lose the Olympic Games quota.
Rank 9
Cheick Sallah CISSE FROM Ivory Coast (22 years old)
Significant achievements: Bronze medal of 2014 African championships, Gold medal of 2015 African Games, 1 Gold medal, 1 Silver medal and 1 Bronze medal of 2015 GP.
As Mahdi KHODABAKHSHI could not participate in Final GP due to injury, he gave the chance to 9th ranked athlete of -80 kg to be invited to this event.
Definitely, the representatives of Tunisia and Egypt became happy after the invitation of Cheikh to Final GP since it gives them a greater chance to win the quota of Rio 2016 in the Continental Qualification Tournament.
Source: I.R. Iran TKD Federation
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