Beach wrestling

National Champion in Freestyle and Beach Style Goes for First World Title

Saturday, October 6, 2018 - 16:48 By Marc Berman

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SARIGERME, Turkey (October 6th and 7th) -- When Huseyin BAKIR (TUR) began wrestling at age 11 in his childhood home of Istanbul, he never imagined that 8 years later he would already be a national champion in freestyle and beach wrestling and competing for his first world title in beach wrestling.

“I never thought to wrestle in the beach style. My focus has been on freestyle but, a month ago I came to Sarigerme to see my cousin. The national championship was going on the same time and I decided to try.” Bakir was able to capture the national title and qualify for the World Championship.

The transition between styles has been an interesting one for Bakir. “ The beach style is completely different than freestyle. I normally like to shoot in and attack my opponents legs but, you can not do that in the beach ( point awarded to opponent if the knee touches the sand during a takedown attempt). The time of the match is less so, the strategy changes. Wrestling is wrestling and I have trained many years so the change in style is not impossible to overcome.”

Another plus of competing on the beach for Bakir is the beautiful weather and wonderful beach. “ So perfect here, the weather, the beach and after the competition we will swim.”

Don’t miss Bakir tomorrow in the medal rounds. Catch him and the rest of the competition live on United World Wrestling.


 

#WrestleSamokov

U20 World Championships 2025 Women's Wrestling Live Blog

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - 06:49 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 19) -- The U20 World Championships enter day five with all Women's Wrestling action. The four weight classes in action are 55kg, 62kg, 65kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

13:00: Everest LEYDECKER (USA) with her second 10-0 win of the day and this time it's at the expense of So TSUTSUI (JPN). Three takedowns and two lace turns for Leydecker in her technical superiority win. She will face Tuba DEMIR (TUR) in the 55kg semifinals.

12:50: YANGZHEN (CHN) with that strong Chinese gut-wrench to end Neevis  RODRIGUEZ (MEX) journey with a 10-0 win and reach semifinals at 62kg. She will face Shirin TAKEMOTO (JPN) who held on to a 5-2 win over Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (UWW).

12:45: Daniella NUGENT (USA) pulls off another close win! After trailing 6-5 and less than a minute left, Nugent scores takedown and then pins Saga SVENSSON (SRB) reach the semifinals at 65kg.

12:40: A huge double-leg and throw from Tuba DEMIR (TUR) for five points and as destroys Lilya COHEN (FRA) and wins her quarterfinals 11-0

12:35: Serbia has semifinalist in Women's Wrestling! Evelin UJHELJI (SRB) pins Sevinchoy POLVONOVA (UZB) and reaches the semifinals at 76kg.

12:30: Gerda TEREK (HUN), the European U20 champion at 55kg, has no answers to REENA (IND) who uses her power to score three takedowns in a 8-2 win and advance to the semifinals at 55kg.

12:22: PRIYA (IND) has no trouble in seeing off Diana TITOVA (UWW) with a 4-0 victory. A couple of takedowns in that win for the Indian.

12:08: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR), the champion at European U20s, posted a controlled 5-2 win over European bronze medalist Elmira YASIN (TUR) and advance at 76kg.

11:50: Daniella NUGENT (USA) with one of those surviving wins. Mukhayyo NARZILLOEVA (UZB) scored a takedown and turn to lead but Nugent manages to keep the score 12-10 and win at 65kg.

11:35: REENA (IND), the Asian U20 and U23 champion, brings down returning silver medalist Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL) 11-6 and advance to the quarterfinals at 55kg. Byambasuren did score a big four-pointer but Reena just more solid in her takedown finishes

11:25: Gerda TEREK (HUN), European U20 champion, with a first-period 11-0 technical superiority win over Amelia TOMALA (POL) at 55kg

11:15: Former world U20 champion Ayano MORO (JPN) is left in tears as she has a back injury in her bout against Diana TITOVA (UWW) who gets a 4-3 victory to book a quarterfinals against PRIYA (JPN)

11:00: Momoko KITADE (JPN) scores a stepout to lead 3-2 against Beyza AKKUS (TUR) in a bout which had only stepouts. Akkus can't find one more to win the bout and Kitade advances at 65kg

10:40: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) pins Jing HONG (CHN) and then Neevis RODRIGUEZ (MEX) gets the fall over ANJLI (IND) and win at 65kg.

10:35: Returning bronze medalist Naomi SIMON (USA) gets the fall over Rupinder JOHAL (CAN) at 76kg. Simon over powering Johal in that bout.

10:25: European U20 champion Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) with a quick fall over Cancan LIU (CHN) at 76kg. In next match, former world U20 champion PRIYA (IND) leg laces Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) to win 10-0.

10:00: It will be all Women's Wrestling morning session in Samokov. 55kg, 62kg, 65kg and 76kg in action.