#Trnava2018

Bey Likes Odds to Repeat as World Champion

Sunday, September 16, 2018 - 21:32 By Eric Olanowski

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TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 16) – For reigning world champion Kamal BEY (USA) to replicate his 2017 run to Junior World gold, he’ll have to navigate a bracket that returns every medalist from the 74kg Tampere World Championships. 

Bey, along with runner-up Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and bronze medalist Nasir HASANOV (AZE) drew into the bottom half of the bracket, while Sajan SAJAN (IND), the other bronze medalist, drew into the top half of the bracket. 

The way the draw played out, a potential Tampere World finals rematch between Bey and Makhmudov could happen as early as Monday night (18:00 local time). 


Kamal BEY (USA) and Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) after the 2017 74kg gold-medal bout at the Tampere World Championships. (Photo by Marion Stein) 

When Bey was asked about the potential semifinal challenge of facing Makhmudov again, he said “It’s not that much of a challenge. People always want to challenge me, and I accept that challenge. He’s only bumping up for this tournament; then he’s going back down to 72kg for the Senior World Championships. …I’m in this for the long haul, and he’s just in this for one match.” 

He added, “This year, it’ll be about keeping the same pace and mentality, while not giving up as many points.” 

Whether it’s Makhudov, Hasanov, Sajan or the field, Bey feels that the improvements he's made over the last year have put himself in position to beat anyone on his way to repeating as Junior World champion. 

“Being a World champion is never given. Whoever stands in your way, you have to beat them regardless. It just about me going out there and taking care of my business.” 

Bey, along with the other returning medalists kick off the opening round of the 2018 Junior World Championships on Monday morning at 10:30 AM (local time). 

#Trnava2018

Betschart Ready to Rewrite Swiss Record Books

Tuesday, September 18, 2018 - 08:38 By Eric Olanowski

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TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 18) - Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) will take the mat Tuesday night with an opportunity to rewrite the Swiss Greco-Roman wrestling books when he competes for his country’s first junior world gold medal. 

His historic Trnava run comes a year after Betschart left Tampere, Finland with a 15th place finish at the 2017 World Championships. “I don’t regret anything from those championships, and not much has changed in my life over the past year. I attribute this year’s success to the recent rules changes. Particularly the par terre rule changes.” 

Prior to his Monday semifinal win, Switzerland's highest Greco-Roman finish came from Thomas ROETHISBERGER at the 1992 World Championships when he finished in fourth place.

“I didn’t know the history behind my semifinals match,” said Betschart. “Walking to the mat, I wasn’t thinking about making history, only concentrating on my match. I was just focused on the match and nothing else. But if it was me or another Swiss wrestler, I would have been happy.”

After his semifinals win, flanked by his Swiss teammates, Betschart said “This is an amazing feeling. It’s pure happiness. I really have no word for how I feel. I just hope I get the gold medal tomorrow.” 

Waking up Tuesday morning, nothing is going to change for Betchart. “Preparation-wise, I’m not going to change anything. Normal preparation and focusing on my warmup is going to be key.”  

Betschart will take on the 2018 Asian junior champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) in the 87kg gold-medal bout. 

 “I know I will wrestle Mohammadhadi Saravi in tomorrow’s finals. But I don’t think much about my opponent. I have my way, the Swiss way, and that’s all I think about.”

If Betschart scores the gold medal on Tuesday night, he’ll join his uncle Hugo DIETSCHE (SUI) in rewriting the Swiss Greco-Roman record books. Dietsche won Switzerland’s first Olympic medal in 36 years when he finished with the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angles Olympic Games. That 1984 bronze medal still stands as Switzerland’s last Greco-Roman Olympic medal.