#WrestleIstanbul

WATCH: Ten Freestyle Finals from #WrestleIstanbul

Sunday, March 6, 2022 - 13:51 By United World Wrestling Press

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (March 5) -- The freestyle competition at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event saw Turkey win the team title with three gold medals.

Kyrgyzstan finished second while the USA was third in the team rankings in Istanbul.

Five-time world champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) was once again a gold winner at a Ranking Series event while Taha AKGUL (TUR) won the 125kg after bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics and World Championships.

GOLD: 57kg - Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) vs Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)

 

GOLD: 61kg - Ravi KUMAR (IND) vs Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

 

GOLD: 65kg - Zagir SHAKHIEV (RWF) vs Shamil MAMEDOV (RWF)

 

GOLD: 70kg - James GREEN (USA) vs Amir YAZDANI (IRI)

 

GOLD: 74kg - Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR) vs Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)

 

GOLD: 79kg - Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs Chance MARSTELLER (USA)

 

GOLD: 86kg - Osman GOCEN (TUR) vs Fatih ERDIN (TUR)

 

GOLD: 92kg - Ahmad BAZRIGHALEH (IRI) vs Erhan YAYLACI (TUR)

 

GOLD: 97kg - Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF) vs Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)

 

GOLD: 125kg - Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)

#BeachWrestling

Sakurai swaps mat for sand, wins Beach Wrestling gold

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 09:01 By Vinay Siwach

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TOKYO (May 13) -- Paris Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) made a return to competition for the first time since August last year. However, it was not on the mat.

Sakurai, who won gold medal at 57kg in Paris, returned to compete in beach wrestling. She wrestled at the Japan Beach Wrestling National Team Qualifying Tournament held in Tachikawa, Tokyo on Sunday and won gold at 60kg

"It may sound strange for me to say it, but I felt that I was suited to it," Sakurai was quoted by Japan Olympic Committee.

Sakurai, who is not entered for the June 19-22 Meiji Cup, Japan's qualifying tournament for the World Championships in September, is now qualified to compete for Japan in Beach Wrestling this year.

"Since I am qualified for the international tournament, I will try to participate," she said. "I want to be number one. I'll practice on the sandy beaches of Kochi [Prefecture]."

The three-time world champion, however, did not rule out the possibility of returning to the mat soon.

"I am still practicing on the mat and when I feel like I am ready, I will be back on the mat," she said.