#kaspeuro2018

Chamizo Stops Tenth Russian From Making #KaspEuro2018 Semifinals

By Eric Olanowski

KASPIISK, Russia (May 5) – Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) stopped Russia from putting their tenth straight wrestler into the 2018 European semifinals by sticking Khetig TSABOLOV (RUS). 

The Italian showed why he is the best defensive wrestler on the planet during his second round bout against the Russian 2017 world runner-up. 

Chamizo, who is a two-time European champion was leading 3-0 before using Tsabolov’s high crotch to throw him to his back, ultimately picking up the fall. 

Chamizo, the 2017 world champion at 70kg will wrestle reigning 74kg European champion, Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) tonight at 5:15 PM (local time) for a spot in the 2018 European finals. 

SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS
61kg
Semifinals - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) vs. Recep TOPAL (TUR)
Semifinals - Mirjalal HASAN ZADA (AZE) vs. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)

74kg 
Semifinals - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) vs.  Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) 
Semifinals - Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) vs. Andrei KARPACH (BLR)

86kg 
Semifinals - Fatih ERDIN (TUR) vs. Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) 
Semifinals - Aleksandr GOSTIYEV (AZE) vs. Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO)

92kg 
Semifinals - Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) vs. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) 
Semifinals - Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) vs. Serdar BOKE (TUR)

125kg 
Semifinals - Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS) 
Semifinals - Robert BARAN (POL) vs. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)

Akgul elected President of Turkish Wrestling Federation

By Eric Olanowski

ANKARA, Turkiye (December 18) --- Taha AKGUL (TUR) today was elected the President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation at the 6th Regular and Financial General Assembly of the Turkish Wrestling Federation held at the Anadolu Hotels Esenboğa Thermal in Ankara.

Akgul retired from his wrestling career four short months ago at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after successfully winning his third Olympic medal. The 34-year-old native of Sivas, Turkiye, won Olympic gold in Rio 2016 and then back-to-back bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. Akgul is also a three-time world gold medalist and 11-time European champion.

"I am very happy to have been elected president by the representatives. Together, with my team, I will do my best for the sport of wrestling with passion and hard work,” Akgul stated to United World Wrestling shortly after the elections.

According to the Turkish Wrestling Federation’s Instagram page, Akgul received 189 out of 288 votes. Former three-time world champion Celcuk CEBI (TUR) received 92 of the remaining 99 votes, while the remaining seven were nullified.

“The full members of the new board of directors of the federation under the presidency of Akgul are as follows: Mesut Ozarslan, Abdullah Şanli, Arslan Narin, Murat Şahin, Huseyin Kaya, Şems Sezal, İsmail Yagbat, İhsan Gurol Guey, İbrahim Demirturkoğgu and Ahmet Yildirim,” stated the TWF.

For more information regarding Akgul's election and other news from Turkiye, see the Turkish Wrestling Federation's Instagram page.