SHARPLES Wrestling Club seniors Malachy O’Rourke and Mostaffa Fatahinya picked up silver and bronze medals respectively at the English Senior Wrestling Championships.
The pair were part of a five-strong team from the Bolton club at the event in Windsor.
O’Rourke added a senior silver medal in the 70kg section to the gold he won in the last English seniors at 57kg.
Fatahinya suffered a serious knee injury in his first match in which he narrowly missed out on winning, but incredibly picked himself up after that disappointment - and against medical advice and all the odds he won his remaining matches to claim a bronze medal at 79kg.
The other team members were Ellis Crossley, competing at 65kg, Mohammed Ansari at 79kg and Scott Fairclough at 125kg.
All three put in some decent performances with Fairclough narrowly missing out on a bronze medal.
Sharples head coach Eddy Kavanagh said: “I was pleased with the team’s performance. It is quite pleasing to see the younger wrestlers stick at what is an extremely tough sport and progress through the ranks, while continuing to commit to the club.
“I have to give a special mention to Mostaffa who yet again typified grit, determination and bravery to continue while also showing what a great technician he is on the mat.”
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