The Iranian athlete displayed remarkable resilience in his matches on Friday. In the first round, he faced a close contest against Jasurbek of Uzbekistan, pulling off a last-second win. He then took on Simone Alessio of Italy, a two-time world champion and top-ranked Olympic contender, and emerged victorious with a thrilling 2-1 score.
The semifinal against Seo Geon-woo was a nail-biter. Barkhordari dropped the first round 4-2 but staged a stunning comeback in the second round, landing multiple head shots to take a 13-9 lead. He maintained his momentum in the deciding round, securing a 12-8 victory and sealing the match with a final score of 2-1.
With Barkhordari's advancement to the final, Iran's taekwondo team is poised to add to its medal tally. On Thursday, Nahid Kiyani claimed a silver medal, while Mobina Nematzadeh, a first-time Olympian, brought home a bronze on Wednesday. Another Iranian athlete, Ariyan Salimi, will begin his matches in the 80+ kg category on Saturday.
Taekwondo has been a strong suit for Iran in Olympic competitions. The country has consistently performed well in the sport, and it is considered a high medal-potential discipline for Iranian athletes. With Barkhordari's impressive performance, Iran's taekwondo team is making its mark once again on the Olympic stage.
As Barkhordari prepares for the gold medal match against the winner between the US and Tunisia, all eyes will be on him as he strives to bring home the ultimate prize for his country. The final showdown is set to take place later tonight at 11:10 p.m.
NOURNEWS