KUORTANE - The last day at 10^th WUC wrestling consisted of men’s Greco-Roman style. The competing categories of the day were the three highest weights left: under 84 kg, under 96 kg, and finally, under 120 kg. The lightest category, as well as the highest category, had a strong Iranian presence competing. In the 84 kg we saw Taleh Nematpour who in the previous years has been the Asian Champion in 2009 as well as won the Asian Games in 2010. In the highest weight category early on notable athlete was the Iranian Bashir Babajanzadeh Darzi who was 3^rd in the World Championships in 2011 and also ranked Olympic 7^th in 2012. In the middle category we witnessed the accomplished Russian Nikita Melnikov, Junior World Championship 3^rd and Junior European Champion both in 2007, take on the challenge for the World University Championship.

To the bronze finals from the 84 kg category made their way Ahmet Yildirim (TUR) competing against Tadeusz Michalik (POL), and Pekka Rintamäki (FIN) against Mark Stenberg (USA).  The winners for this class were Pekka Rintamäki (FIN) and Ahmet Yildirim (TUR).

The gold match was wrestled between Oleg Shokalov (RUS) and Taleb Nematpour (IRI). The final took off and 1:30 of the time went without points. Finally, from the parterre-position, the Iranian managed to score a defending point. The second period went about in a similar fashion and after 1:30 again, lead to parterre. The Russian Shokalov started to defend but Nematpour succeeded with a point, assuring the gold medal for Iran.

In the middle category 94 kg, Volodymyr Teslenko (UKR) and representative of the hosting country Antti Hakala (FIN), as well as Marin Cazac (MDA) and Robert Alexandru Papp (ROU) went head-to-head for the bronze medals. Robert Alexandru Papp (ROU) and Volodymyr Teslenko (UKR) ended up taking the bronze medals.

In the gold match Ahmet Tacyildiz (TUR) wrestled against Nikita Melnikov (RUS). The two men started off patiently and no points were given 1:30 into the first period which lead to the parterre-position. The Turkish wrestler managed to score 3 points from the parterre right before the end of the first period thus, winning the first round. The events on the second period were similar to the first in relation to the pace of the match and ended up in a parterre-position again. The Russian manages to get 4 points from Tacyildiz which lead him to a victory from the second half and the match was settled in the third period. The Russian started the 3^rd round strong and concluded the match 27 seconds into the third period with a win.

The under 120 kg and last category for the competitions had Kamil Blonski (POL) and Bayram Nigar (TUR), and Toby Erickson (USA) with Longsheng Xu (CHN) competing for the bronzes. Outcome of the matches left the Polish Kamil Blonski (POL) and Longsheng Xu (CHN) with the bronze medals on their neck.

The gold match was decided between the Iranian Bashir Babajanzadeh Darzi (IRI) and the Russian Alikhan Ayubov (RUS). The Iranian started the match strong and set the pace for the first period. After 1:30 wrestled, Babajanzadeh was leading by a point 1-0 and ended up taking the win from the first round. The second period went evenly until the Iranian deserved his first point by rightfully challenging the referees’ call however, Ayubov tied up the score to 1-1 when 1:13 into the second period. Babajanzadeh, holding the win from the first period, ends up taking the championship title for the men under 120 kg in Greco-Roman style.

Closing Ceremony

The 10th World University Wrestling Championships finished in the evening of Oct. 6^th at Kuortane with the Closing ceremony and banquet. The ceremony began with the presentation of the participating countries. Afterwards the President of the Finnish Wrestling Federation, Chairman of the Board of Kuortane Sports Institute and a member of the Board of the Finnish Olympic Committee Mr. Jukka Rauhala gave his speech to close the championships. Rauhala was followed by two closing speeches from the President of the Organizing Committee, Mr Kimmo Yli-Jaskari and also the FISU Executive Committee Delegate, Mr. Iisato Igarashi. The speeches were shortly tailed by the representing of the next World University Wrestling Championship in 2014 and the handing over of the FISU-flag to the Hungarian delegation. After the formalities of the Closing Ceremony were taken care of, the ceremony continued on with a banquet and festivities.

This concluded the 10^th World University Wrestling Championship 2012 at Kuortane, Finland! Next time 11^th World University Wrestling Championships will be held in Hungary in 2014.

(Source: OC)

RESULTS DAY 5

MEN

Greco-Roman -84kg

Greco-Roman -96kg

Greco-Roman -120kg