Iran Press/ Europe: Danial Shahbakhsh was able to defeat Edgaras Skurdelis 3-2 in the lightweight.
Taking on Lithuania's Edgaras Skurdelis for a spot in the under-60 kilogram semi-finals, it was a back-and-forth affair between them and ended with a 3-2 split decision in favor of the Iranian, who collapsed to his knees with emotion as his name was called as the winner.
The Iranian team jumped up on the apron and were ecstatic with the result, leaving all of the support staff accompanying him crying at the historic result.
"When I came into this Championships I thought about getting the medal here and to get the historic medal for Iran because this is the first medal for us," said Shahbakhsh to insidethegames.
"We are one team, all of our boxing team here wanted to make it a historic medal for us, but I am only one person.
"You see at the end of the match the happiness, and I was crying."
He added his thanks to his coach Alireza Esteki, who brought him to the Asian Championships this year - which he won silver at - and beyond to the World Championships.
"I want to thank my coach who believed in me," he said.
"They first brought me to the Asian Championships and allowed me to fight there.
"I give this result to him and I thank him for allowing me to compete here."
Shahbakhsh will face Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov on Wednesday.
He started the campaign with a 5-0 win over Gambian Musa Cham. Shahbakhsh also defeated Italian Gustavo Rivera in the second round with the same result.
Shahbakhsh beat Kyrgyzstan’s Munarbek Seitbek Uulu 5-0 in the quarterfinals.
The gold winners at the showpiece will walk away with prize money of $100,000.
The silver medalists are to be given $50,000, and both bronze-medalists will be awarded $25,000 each. The total prize purse stands at a whopping $2.6 million.
The World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia will continue until November 6.
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