#WrestleGuatemalaCity

Yepez Apunta a Volver a Lo Más Alto del Podio en #WrestleGuatemalaCity

By Taylor Miller

Hoy Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) busca su primera medalla del Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil. Ella ya es finalista en la categoría de 50 kg en su primera competencia juvenil.

Con solo 18 años, Yépez ya tiene mucho éxito internacional.

En adición a sus cuatro medallas panamericanas, Yépez resultó dos veces entre las primeras cinco mejores del campeonato mundial. En 2017, ganó una medalla de bronce en el Campeonato Mundial de Cadetes.

Ya ha ganado títulos panamericanos en las categorías U15 y cadetes. Los dos vinieron en 2016. En 2017, ganó una medalla de plata, y el año pasado reclamó la medalla bronce.

Hoy en la competencia, Yépez tiene tres victorias por puesta espalda, derrotando a los oponentes de Brasil, Canadá y Panamá.

Esta noche se enfrentara a la Campeona Olímpica Juvenil y Campeona Mundial en la categoría cadetes Emily SHILSON (USA) por el oro.

“Como yo he siempre dicho, nunca hay que tener miedo a ningún rival y para la final lo que voy a hacer es caerle encima y dar lo mejor de mí. Que gane la mejor,” dijo Yepez.

Mira el torneo en vivo en unitedworldwrestling.org. Las finales comienzan a las 6 p.m. CST.

#TurkiyeWrestling

UWW mourns death of nine wrestlers 

By United World Wrestling Press

COSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 11) -- Five days after multiple earthquakes hit the Kahramanmaraş province in southwest Turkiye, nine wrestlers were confirmed dead on Friday.  

In the aftermath of the earthquake which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, people were stuck under the rubble and large-scale efforts are still continuing to save lives.

The following are the nine wrestlers that we have lost:

Mehmet ESKISARILI
Ahmet TAS
Ali GURSOY
Eray SIMSEK
Halil EDIRNE
Hasan SARITURK
Ozan TATLI
Ahmet DURMAN
Aslan EKIZ

United World Wrestling mourns their death.

"It is with a heavy heart to report we have lost nine wrestlers in the earthquakes that took place on February 6,” Nenad LALOVIC, UWW President, said “I ask that we remember these wrestlers, say their names aloud and pray for them and their families. The whole entire wrestling community is devastated by the loss of these young men who had a bright future ahead of them.”

More than 25,000 people have died so far as the earthquake hit Kahramanmaraş, affecting southwest Turkiye and northwest Syria.

A U20 wrestling tournament finished hours a night before the earthquake struck. Teams from France, Uzbekistan, Kosvo and Turkiye were participating in it. All the international wrestlers were sent home safely the next day. However, with the wrestling club demolished, a few Turkish wrestlers were stuck under the rubble.

On the first day, 21 wrestlers were saved immediately and others were subsequently rescued from under the rubble.

Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) was among the first ones to call for help and save the "30-40 wrestlers" stuck under the rubble. Four-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR), Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and many others have volunteered and reached the earthquake-affected areas. They have joined hands to help and rescue the victims. The wrestling community around the world has shown support and donated to help Turkiye.

President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation Seref EROGLU, who belongs to Kahramanmaras, has been present at the site from the first day and joined the rescue operations.