Iran champion gives gold medal to Ahmadinejad

The 2009 World Greco-Roman champion Hamid Sourian of Iran has given his gold medal to the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a gift.

"Dr. Ahmadinejad is the real champion due to his strong presence at the United Nations General Assembly," Sourian said on Thursday.

"He [Ahmadinejad] has also gained pride and dignity for the Iranians and all the Muslims," he went on to say.

After receiving the gift, the Iranian president said that his country is proud of its young athletes even if they fail to win any medals.

"Iran's youth including Hamid Sourian are the country's real heroes with their magnanimity even if they don't earn any medals," Ahmadinejad said.

"Wrestling spreads morality, culture and values which human needs today," the chief executive added.

The president further asked Iran's Physical Education Organization to pay more attention to wrestling.

Sourian won the gold medal in the men's 55 kg Greco-Roman category on September 26 after he defeated his Armenian rival Roman Amouian in the final of the 2009 FILA World Championships in Herning, Denmark.

Sourian won both the Junior World Championships and Senior World Championships in 2005. He had also won gold medals in the World Wrestling Championships in 2006 and 2007 in China and the Azerbaijan Republic, respectively.