TEHRAN - Female judo practitioner Maral Mardani will carry Iran’s flag at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Mardani was left tearful and upset after the officials of the Youth Olympic Games didn’t allow her to participate at the Games wearing the headscarf.

Judo applies strict safety rules and any covering on the head is deemed to present a risk to the fighter’s health.

Mardani was scheduled to meet Omaria Ramirez from Dominican Republic at the 78kg weight category but was forced to leave the mat.

Iranian athletes have won five gold medals and one bronze so far in the Games.

Taekwondo practitioners Yalda Valinejadn and Ali Eshkevarian, weightlifter Alireza Yousefi and wrestlers Amir Reza Dehbozorgi and Mohammad Nosrati have won gold medals and gymnast Reza Bohloulzadeh claimed a bronze.

The closing ceremony of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games will be held on Oct. 18.

Mohammad Nosrati carried Iran’s flag in the competitions’ opening ceremony.

A total of the 3,997 athletes from 206 countries are taking part in the Games.