Ayatollah Seyyed congratulates lifters on victory

In a message on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the Iranian lifters, particularly Behdad Salimi and Kianoush Rostami, because they made all Iranians happy with their victory, IRNA reported. World champion Behdad Salimi lived up to his billing as the overwhelming favorite by winning three gold medals in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total result competitions of the men's over 105-kilogram category. The 22-year-old world athlete proved himself a modern-day Hercules after he elevated 214 kilograms in the snatch section and hoisted 250 kilograms in the clean and jerk. Another Iranian lifter Sajjad Anoushiravani took the second spot in total and clean and jerk sections but stood third in the snatch section. Iranian weightlifter Kianoush Rostami also won a gold medal in the clean and jerk section, pocketed a bronze in the snatch, and took another gold in the men's 85-kilogram division in total. In the overall standings, China stood first with 568 points, Russia finished second with 542 points, and the Islamic Republic was ranked third with 495 points. Iranian lifters pocketed five golds, two silvers, and four bronze medals at the event and booked six places in the weightlifting competitions at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.