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“Making us even stronger as a family of fighters”
Of: Andreas Käck, Kristoffer Bergström
Published:
Photo: PETTER ARVIDSON / BILDBYRÅN
Zigmunds Jansons.
Navid Afkari is sentenced to death.
Now, the captain of the Swedish ban expresses his support for the Iranian fighter.
– It’s just tragic, says Zigmunds Jansons.
Several large organizations are now lobbying the Iranian regime in hopes that 27-year-old Navid Afkari will be saved. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has been in contact with Iran following pressure from the World Sports Association (WPA).
“If you execute athletes like this, it should result in Iran losing all right to participate in international sports,” WPA leader Brendan Schwab told Insidethegames.
Photo: Private
Navid Afkari.
“It is tragic”
The captain of the Swedish team, Zigmund Jansons, is now commenting on the matter.
– It’s just tragic. For me and for Swedish wrestling, everything only gets worse because it is a wrestler who is affected. I don’t know all the details, just that he is accused of protesting the regime, but it can only be said that it is tragic when a person and a fighter are sentenced to execution, says Jansons, who is the league captain in the Greco-Roman style. to Sportbladet.
To be executed today
Two years ago, Navid Afkari and his two brothers protested against the regime in what is described as a peaceful demonstration. But Afkari was arrested and sentenced to two death sentences. According to information from Iran, he is said to have been tortured to confess to the murder of a security guard.
The death sentence is scheduled to be carried out today.
Zigmund Jansons is shocked.
– We face fighters from Iran in almost all international competitions and in championships. They are one of the most prominent nations in wrestling. What will happen now is that we become even stronger as a family of fighters. We support each other and become more friends, he says.
Do you want to see a boycott of Iranian athletes as a brand?
– No, it will be a double punishment. We want outstanding opponents and we win with fair play. Rather, we want to get closer to them now and become stronger together.
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