Receiving Karimi, who refrained from fighting against the representative of the Zionist regime, the Supreme Leader appreciated his choice.
Ayatollah Khamenei described Karimi's behavior as the same as those of renowned champions like Pourya-ye Vali.
'I really feel proud to see that there are youths who are willing to forbear their absolute right and an outright champion title in favor of a high, bigger goal,' the Leader said.
Karimi, 23, threw the match to his Russian rival at U23 World Senior Wrestling Championship in Polish city of Bydgoszcz to avoid competing with a representative from the Zionist regime of Israel.
