From unconsciousness and oxygen masks to a gold medal : A lucky win
Who knew that getting hurt to unconsciousness in a karate match can score you an Olympics gold medal.
Talk about luck for Iran's Sajad Ganjzadeh! Right when he thought he had lost to Tareg Hamedi while lying on a stretcher and badly injured, the odds were on his side.
When Saudi Arabian Tareg Hamedi threw a high-kick to Sajad Ganjzadeh's neck saw him, it got everyone shocked as he got disqualified shortly after.
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Hamedi's final kick sent Ganjzadeh to the Japanese mats and the Saudi fans into celebratory mode before the mood in the Nippon Budokan arena switched. It got absolutely awkward really quick...
Paramedics rushed to Ganjzadeh's side with oxygen masks for Ganjzadeh and removed him from the karate mats to a stretcher.
Discussions took place between the Olympics officials on the sidelines, this is when the referee called the match for Ganjzadeh.
Hamedi was then charged for an unchecked attack and disqualified. An 'unchecked attack' is not allowed under karate's Olympic rules.
Luckily Ganjzadeh returned later for the medal ceremony, walking normally. He was not dead or permanently injured.
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On television the two appeared to harbour no weird feelings towards each other, however, as they hugged and posed for photographs together.
"I'm happy about the gold medal but I'm sad that I had to win it like this," Ganjzadeh shared.
Hamedi took the loss in his stride, saying he was unhappy with the judge's decision but satisfied with how he fought.
Have a look at that kick that got Hamedi disqualified:
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He literally won for being hurt really bad, that is just crazy!
Main Image Courtesy: Iranian History - The Land of the Original Aryans