KANJIZA, Serbia – Athletes from more than a dozen countries across three continents are set to compete this weekend at the fourth Mediterranean Wrestling Championships in Kanjiza, Serbia. 

The last championships, held in 2012, saw Turkey put on a dominant performance, winning 13 titles across all three styles including six of seven in men’s freestyle. The only wrestler not from Turkey to claim freestyle gold was 2003 world silver medalist Ghenadi TULBEA (MLD) who took the title at 55kg. 

Unlike the Mediterranean Games, the quadrennial multi-sport competition of the area which allows only one entry per country, the Mediterranean Championships allows for more than one wrestler per weight category.

Some notable names to win gold in the men’s freestyle competition include Chaednadi Tulbea and 2009 World silver medalist Sezar AKGUL (TUR). In Greco-Roman, 2011 World bronze medalist Neven ZUGAJ (CRO) and 2006 World University champion Attila GUEZEL (TUR) both took home titles in 2012, while on the women’s Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) also won gold. Prevolaraki recently posted a runner-up finish at the 2014 European Championships.

Men’s Freestyle

Nikola MARKOVIC (SRB) should be a favorite to medal at 57kg. The runner-up of the 2013 Austrian Open in 2013 Markovic represented Serbia at the 2013 Junior World Championships. Others in the field are Chakir AMSARI (MON), Ivan ANAKIEV (MKD), Jovica PAPIC (SRB) and Firas ALALLAI ALRIFA (SYR).

At 61kg, a pair of younger wrestlers to watch are Jasin REZALARI (MKD) and Nikoa JOVANOVIC (SRB). Relzalari has World-level experience at the Junior level. He finished 15th at the 2012 Junior World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. Also entered is Bilal EL OUARRAQUE (MAR).

At 65kg, Ruslan MUKTAROV (FRA) hasn’t competed at a FILA event in a few years, but did earn a silver at the Henri Deglane Tournament in 2011. Naser Allah LALLOUCHE (ALG) recently competed at the Dan Kolov-Nikoa Petrov in Sofia, Bulgaria but didn’t medal. Mario STEFANEK (SRB) was active on the junior level, wrestling in three European Junior Championships and one Junior World Championship.

At 70kg, Nemanja TOMIC (SRB) is a past participant at the European Junior Championships. Mohamed KHAN SHAIKHOUNI (SYR) recently finished 12th at the Asian Championships at 74kg.

At 74kg, Vitomir DOKIC (SRB) was a bronze medalist at the 2012 Macedonian Pearl, while Besmir VESELOVSKI (MKD) saw competition recently at the Yasar Dogu in Turkey where he finished 22nd.

At 86kg, African silver medalist Mohamed Riad LOUAFI (ALG) is in the mix. He’s a three-time medalist at the African Championships and was Algeria’s representative at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where he finished 16th. Milos PITULIC (SRB) represented his country at the 2011 Junior World Championships.

At 97kg, Egzon SHALA (ALB) brings a wealth of experience to the event. He’s participated in three senior-level World Championships and was a fifth-place finisher at the 2013 European Championships. Marko JOVANOVIC (SRB) has world medals in beach wrestling and wrestled both Olympic styles at the Mediterranean Championships in 2012, finishing with a bronze in Greco-Roman and a silver in freestyle.

At 125kg, Boban DANOV (MKD) is a two-time participant at the European Championships and finished with a bronze medal in last year’s Mediterranean Games. Cedo KALIC (SRB) has won FILA grappling tournaments, but is relatively inexperienced on the international level in freestyle wrestling. Raja ALKRAD (SYR) finished fifth in the Mediterranean Games last year and represented Syria at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul. 

Greco-Roman

At 59kg, Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO) is extremely experienced on the senior level. He’s picked up a gold medal already this year at the Zagreb Open and won the Mediterranean Championships in 2011. Dragan DESIC (SRB) has twice competed in the Mediterranean Championships, wrestling in both styles in 2011 and 2012. He was a bronze medalist in Greco-Roman in 2011 and a bronze medalist in freestyle in 2012. Kristijan FRIS (SRB) was fifth at the European Championships in April and is a two-time bronze medalist at the Mediterranean Championships.

At 66kg, top names include Davor STEFANEK (SRB) and Vladmiros MATIAS (GRE). Stefanek has been on the competitive scene since prior to the breakup of Yugoslavia. His first world-level event came way back in 2002 at the European Cadet Championships. He was a Junior World Champion in 2005 and this year won gold at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Matias was seventh at the 2014 European Championships. Hugo PASSOS (POR) has been on the international scene since 1997 representing Portugal at 11 World Championship at the Junior and Senior level.

At 71kg, Aleksandar MAKSIMOVIC (SRB) has represented Serbia on eight different World Championship teams. He’s twice won gold at the European Junior Championships and he just missed a medal at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, finishing fifth at 66kg. Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE) was 10th at the European Championships and was a silver medalist at least year’s Olympia Tournament in ancient Olympia, Greece.

At 75kg, European bronze medalist Bozo STARCEVIC (SRB) is starting to emerge. He’s won bronze medals at his last three events, including the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Ljuomir Ivanovic Gedza International in Belgrade.  Another Serbian, Viktor NEMES represented his country at the 2013 Jure KUHAR (SLO) has been on the international circuit dating back to his days as a cadet. Kuhar has represented his country on nine World Teams in his career. He won the Zagreb Open back in February. He’s competed in the Mediterranean Games and the Mediterranean Championships, but has yet to medal.

At 80kg, Petar BALO (SRB) has been on two senior-level World Championship teams. He won a gold medal at the Ljuomir Ivanovic Gedza International in Belgrade earlier this year. Milan TODOROVIC (SRB) will be competing in his third Mediterranean Championships. He wrestled in both styles in 2011.

At 85kg, Dejan FRANJKOVIC (SRB) is entered at the weight, but all his senior level experience has been above 96kg, so if he makes the drop, he could one to follow throughout the rest of the year. He won the Mediterranean Championships in 2012. Goran BULATOVIC (SRB) has been on three World Teams and was fifth at the Mediterranean Championships back in 2012. Kresimir FRANIC (CRO) was a bronze medalist at the Zagreb Open back in February.

At 98kg, a pair of medal winners at the Zagreb Open are leading the field as Vasilje GOVEDARICA (SRB) and Tomislav LAVRIC (CRO). Govedarica was a silver medalist and Lavric was bronze. Naozat SALEH (SYR) was seventh at the 2013 Asian Championships.

At 130kg, the top name to watch based on the preliminary entries is Nemanja PAVLOVIC (SRB). He was the bronze medalist at the Ljuomir Ivanovic Gedza International and back in 2012, he was fifth at the Mediterranean Championships.

The preliminary entry list for women’s freestyle was incomplete 

Schedule of Events (Senior Level Only)

Friday, June 13
17:30 – 18:00 – Weigh Ins (Men’s & Women’s Freestyle)

Saturday, June 14
14:00 – 17:30 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage (Men’s & Women’s Freestyle)
17:30 – 18:00 – Weigh Ins (Greco-Roman)
18:30 – 21:00 – Championship & Bronze Medal Finals (Men’s & Women’s Freestyle)

Sunday, June 15
15:00 – 17:00 – Qualification Rounds & Repechage (Greco-Roman)
18:30 – 20:00 – Championship & Bronze Medal Finals (Greco-Roman)
20:30 – Official Banquet