This is the second Olympic medal in the career of the Ukrainian athlete.
Greco-Roman wrestler Parviz Nasibov earned Ukraine its third silver medal at the 2024 Olympic Games, narrowly missing out on gold in the final of the 67 kg weight category.
After three consecutive victories in the tournament, Nasibov faced off against Saeid Esmaeili, the 2024 Asian champion from Iran, in the battle for the top spot on the podium.
Ahead of the final, Nasibov had to undergo a procedure on his eye, which was injured during the semifinal match against the world-ranking leader, Azerbaijan’s Hasrat Jafarov, and he entered the final match wearing a protective bandage.
How did the decisive match between Nasibov and Esmaeili unfold?
Nasibov scored the first two points at the start of the second minute with a successful attack. By the end of the first half, Parviz extended his lead to 3-0.
In the second period, Esmaeili initiated an action that narrowed the gap to 2-3. He then added a third point, gaining a technical advantage and taking the lead.
Esmaeili earned three more points after a rejected challenge by the Ukrainian side, edging out Nasibov by the narrowest of margins — 6-5 in favor of the Iranian.
What Does Parviz Nasibov’s Medal Mean?
- Nasibov has secured his second Olympic silver medal; in the final of Tokyo 2020, the Ukrainian lost to another Iranian, Mohammad Reza Geraei.
- This is Ukraine’s first medal in wrestling at the 2024 Olympic Games. Ukrainian athletes have won medals in wrestling at all eight Olympics in history.
- Overall, this is the ninth medal for Team Ukraine across all sports at the 2024 Olympic Games, and the third silver.
