Sharifi to replace Rezazadeh in Olympics

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PTV - Iranian weightlifter Rashid Sharifi replaces world champion Hossein Rezazadeh to represent his country in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"Sharifi, who is a young and promising weightlifter and an Asian champion, will replace Rezazadeh to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," Head of Iran's Weightlifting Federation Bahram Afsharzadeh said on Thursday.

Sharifi clinched the Asian championship after lifting the 426 kg total (190 -and 236 kgs snatch and clean jerk respectively) in the 39th Asian Weightlifting Championship in Kanazawa, Japan last May.

On Wednesday, four-time heavyweight world champion Hossein Rezazadeh - nicknamed 'the Iranian Hercules' - pulled out of the 2008 Games due to medical reasons.

The 30-year-old Rezazadeh won several gold medals in various international sports events, including two gold medals in the Sydney and Athens Olympics in 2000 and 2004.

Rezazadeh holds world records in snatch (213 kilos), clean jerk (263 kilos) and total (472 kilos).

[BrankoWasTheBEST]

The very best of luck to Sharifi. Hopefully he too will bring honour and glory to Iranzamin, although it will be very hard to follow in the footsteps of the living legend Rezazadeh. It is unfortunate for him in that now there is a lot of pressure and expectation placed on his young shoulders. Hopefully he will cope well.

[Afshin]

I think Sharifi will be very determined to do well and make up for Rezazadeh's absence, this might boost his efforts and work in his favour

[ali_europe]

the best luck to him...although I think he need few years of experience and hard trainign till he can replace such a super weightlifter like Rezazadeh....... but it is good to motivate him and I think it would be also very good if Rezazadeh would travel with the team to Beijing..cuz even he retired, but seeing him there will motivate all the young weightlifters to give their best