#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest Day Six Finals Preview Show

Saturday, April 2, 2022 - 19:54 By Eric Olanowski

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It’ll be an all-Greco final on Day Six, where we’ll crown continental champs at 55kg, 63kg, 77g, 87kg and 130kg

At 55kg, world champs Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) will meet for the fifth time in their career. The Azeri owns the 4-0 advantage against the energetic Georgian heading into tonight’s bout.

At 63kg, fans will be treated to the finals matchup between last year’s Euro runner-up Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) and world silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO).

In the 77kg finals, Yunus BASAR (TUR) will try to stop Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) from improving on his 2021 European silver medal.

Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), the U23 European silver medalist, will look to keep his hot streak alive against Nicu O-JOG (ROU) in the 87kg gold-medal bout.

We’ll close out the day with Riza KAYAALP (TUR) looking to cap off his quest for an 11th European title. He’ll wrestle Italy’s Danila SOTNIKOV for the 130kg gold.
 

Saturday’s gold-medal bouts:
55kg: Eldaniz AZIZLI ?? vs. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA ??
63kg: Taleh MAMMADOV ?? vs. Leri ABULADZE ??
77kg: Malkhas AMOYAN ?? vs. Yunus BASAR ??
87kg: Nicu OJOG ?? vs. Turpan BISULTANOV ??
130kg: Riza KAYAALP ?? vs. Danila SOTNIKOV ??

#WrestleParis

Olympic champion Focken carries Olympic torch for Paris 2024

Thursday, June 27, 2024 - 09:38 By Vinay Siwach

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ALSACE, France (June 27) -- Tokyo Olympic champion Aline FOCKEN (GER) was part of the Olympic Torch Relay on Wednesday in Alsace, stage 41 of the relay for the 2024 Paris Games.

"It was magical," Focken said. "It was a short run for only a few minutes but I enjoyed it. I felt the Olympic spirit and pride to run with the torch. We were briefed a lot, about the significance of the torch and it's for peace and I felt it all the time. It was special."

The relay began from the European Parliament and then passed in front of the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe. It also lit up the city’s covered bridges, the Grande île district, the Alsatian Museum and the Notre Dame gothic cathedral before finishing at Place Kléber, in the city’s heart, where the celebration venue was located.

 

The Olympic Torch Relay continued its voyage through eastern France with a distinctly European tone. In addition to putting the spotlight on the gems of Alsace, the Olympic Torch Relay also highlighted fraternity between people, such as Franco-German links, which were celebrated during an exceptional collective relay on the Three Countries Bridge in Huningue. Another collective relay took place in Strasbourg, dedicated, as each day, to a specific sport.

Focken carried the torch at the start of the three country bridge for 250 metres. The starting point of Focken's run was in Germany while her finish was in France. She then handed over the Olympic Torch to Frenchman Eric Kueny, representative of the host country in Huningue.

Aline FOCKEN (GER)Aline FOCKEN (GER) with the Olympic torch on Wednesday. (Photo: Lewis Joly)

Focken, who won the gold medal in 76kg weight class in Tokyo, became the first woman from Germany to win gold at the Olympics in wrestling. She said her feeling was similar to Olympic Games but she was nervous before the run.

"I was nervous," she said. "It's different and all the TV is around you. I was relaxed but nervous. It was a really special moment and I thought that this may be the last Olympic moment for you so just enjoy it. I took my family with me to the relay."