An Accrington wrestler has spoken of his ‘pride’ after winning won gold at the British Wrestling Championships.

Mostafa Fatahiniya, 37, is an Olympic freestyle wrestler and competes for Bolton-based Sharples Wrestling Club. 

He entered the British Wrestling Championships, in two categories on the same day - the 78kg freestyle veterans and 79kg freestyle seniors. 

He clinched gold in the 78kg freestyle veterans winning all his matches

He also claimed bronze in the 79kg freestyle seniors with 16 in the group. His only loss in the competition saw him come up against the eventual gold medallist who was 15 years his junior.

Mostafa was joined by Eddy Kavanagh, Wrestling Development Officer and Head Coach for Sharples and Castle Hill wrestling clubs in Bolton, during the competition.

Mostafa said: “I am really proud of the results.

“Throughout the day I had eight bouts, this is more than any other wrestler on the day and I only lost once.

“I have been wrestling all my life, I started in Iran when I was five and have continued now I live in England. I come from a wrestling family, my father was a wrestling world champion in the '80s.

“I am hoping to be selected to represent GBR in the upcoming veteran's world championships in Greece in October.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

This year’s British Seniors competition took place at Wright Robinson College in Manchester in June.

British Wrestling (BWA) is the National Governing Body for wrestling in the UK, including the Olympic and Commonwealth styles of wrestling and other styles within the remit of United World Wrestling, as well as other indigenous forms of wrestling.