RIO DE JANEIRO (August 20) – World champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) and world silver medalist Selim YASAR (TUR) advanced to the gold medal finals Saturday, the second day of freestyle wrestling events at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Akgul cruised into the finals with a pair of technical falls and an 8-1 decision over Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM) in the 125kg semifinals, while Yasar stopped Reineris SALAS PERES (CUB), 5-2, in the quarterfinals and J’den COX (USA), 2-1, in the semifinals at 86kg.

Akgul, seeking his first Olympic Games gold medal after finishing eighth in London four years ago, will meet London 2012 bronze medalist Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) in Saturday evening’s super heavyweight final at Carioca Arena 2.

The 125kg final will be a rematch of their 2014 world championship final, won by Akgul, 4-3, in Tashkent.

Ghasemi advanced to the finals with a quarterfinal win over European champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 4-4, on a takedown and gut wrench midway through the second period. He then rolled up a technical fall in 33 seconds over Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) in the semifinals.

Yasar, meanwhile, squares off again in the 86kg final with Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) in a rematch of their Las Vegas 2015 final, won by Sadulaev, 6-0.

In the semifinals, Yasar received a point off the “shot clock” -- which included a caution -- in the first period and Cox scored a step-out point in the second. With Yasar holding the tie-break advantage, the U.S. corner called for a video challenge at end of the bout, but was rejected making the final score 2-1.

Sadulaev, meanwhile, rolled over London 2012 gold medalist Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) with a quick series of scores, including a pair of gut wrenches, for an 8-1 triumph in the semfinals.

Earlier in the day, 2013 world silver medalist Alen ZASIEIEV (UKR) scored a single-leg takedown with 20 seconds remaining in the preliminaries to defeat London 2012 bronze medalist Bilyal MAKHOV (RUS), 2-2, with the last points. Zasieiev, however, fell to Petriashvili, 11-6, in the round of 16.

Freestyle 86kg (19 entries)

Gold Medal Final
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) v Selim YASAR (TUR)

Bronze Medal Finals
Winner RpA v Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE)
Winner RpB v J’den COX (USA)

Semifinals
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), 8-1
Selim YASAR (TUR) df. J’den COX (USA), 2-1

Repechage
RpA – Istvan VEREB (HUN) v Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN)
RpB – Jaime ESPINAL (PUR) v Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB)

Freestyle 125kg (20 entries)

Gold Medal Final
Taha AKGUL (TUR) v Komeil GHASEMI (IRI)

Bronze Medal Finals
Winner RpA v Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM)
Winner RpC v Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) 

Semifinals
Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM), 8-1
Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) df. Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) by TF, 10-0, 0:33

Repechage
RpA – JARGALSAIKHAN Chuluunbat (MGL) v Ibrahim SAIDOV (BLR)
RpB – Korey JARVIS (CAN) v Diaaelidin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY)
RpC – Winner RpB v Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)