Baghdad, Iraq ? Gunmen killed the coach of Iraq’s national wrestling team in a botched abduction attempt Thursday but a player escaped, police said.

The attackers grabbed the coach, Mohammed Karim Abid Sahib, and one of his players as they left the sports center in the northern neighborhood of Kazamiyah, where the team was preparing to leave today for a tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

Both men tried to flee, but Sahib was shot to death during the attempt, police Capt. Mohammed al-Waili said. The player escaped and informed authorities about the attack, but his name wasn’t immediately available.

Iraqi wrestling federation chief Abdul Karim Hamid confirmed the death and said Sahib’s body had been returned to his family. The victims were Sunni Arabs from the nearby neighborhood of Azamiyah.

The authorities said Sahib and the player had left the sports center to buy sweets to take as gifts on their trip.