Press TV- Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler Ghasem Rezaei has maintained his position as the world’s third best athlete in the 98-kilogram weight category in the 2016 year-end rankings of the United World Wrestling.

The 31-year-old Rio 2016 Olympics bronze medalist renewed his claim to the spot lately, and stood behind Yasmany Lugo Cabrera from Cuba in the second position. Armenian wrestler Artur Aleksanyan stood atop the position and took top honors.

Turkey’s Cenk Ildem, Swedish Greco-Roman wrestler Fredrik Schoen, Alin Alexuc-Ciurariu from Romania and Russian sportsman Nikita Melnikov claimed the fourth to seventh places of the chart.

On August 17, 2016, Rezaei registered an emphatic 8-0 victory in the round of 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 2 indoor stadium, and eliminated Venezuelan Greco-Roman wrestler Luillys Pérez.

He then faced 26-year-old Cuban opponent Lugo Cabrera in the quarter finals, but was not in perfect composure and eventually lost 4-0 to him.

The Iranian wrestler overcame Xiao Di from China and Sweden’s Schoen respectively in his pursuit of the bronze medal, and ended his campaign, ranking third in the world.