Six Greek medals in the finals of the World Grappling Championship

The Greek team triumphed on the second day of the World Grappling Championship and won a total of six medals.

In the U15 age category, Thanasis Kastanas won the bronze medal. Among the veterans, Yiannis Kargiotakis won the gold medal. Savvas Karipidis, Ilias Boukis, Giorgos Kelasidis climbed to the second step of the podium, while Nikos Panoutsos won the bronze medal.

The action now returns on Tuesday, where the World Veterans Olympic Wrestling Championship will be held with 800 athletes participating!

Kastanas bronze

Thanasis Kastanas celebrated the bronze medal in the -66kg category. in the World Grappling Championship (Gi category) U15 wrestling. The Greek champion, with a great appearance and tremendous composure, but also perseverance in the race that led to the third place on the podium, prevailed 3-2 against Artem Dotsyuk. Kastanas led 2-0, with the Ukrainian equalizing at 2-2, but with timely and correct use of the challenge by the Greek side, one point was deducted.

Again, however, Dotsyuk was able to tie the game with 19 minutes remaining. But Kastanas didn’t flinch, on the contrary, he answered immediately and at 7.5” he got the winning point that gave him the bronze medal, which is the second in the event after Sunday’s bronze, also at -66k, but in the category no Gi (no kimono).

To reach the medal, Kastanas started with a loss to France’s Frédéric Planquet, who reached the final and was crowned world champion, winning the gold. The Greek wrestler took a 2-0 lead, but the Frenchman managed to turn it around and win 6-3.

Then in the repechage, Kastanas with a commanding performance dominated Kazakh Kainar Zenisov 11-0 to advance to the bronze medal match.

The silver medal was won by the Ukrainian Ivan Sofroni and the other bronze by the Spanish Carbal Garcia, who had eliminated Adam Karamanolis in the quarter-finals.

Anastasia Mylonas at -80kg. U15 in the first match of her group she was faced with Tetiana Tkatschik, with the Ukrainian taking the victory 6-1. Unfortunately, however, she was unable to continue her competitive presence in the event, as due to an injury she was forced to retire.

In the B’ group of -57k. U15 Georgia Karamanoli faced Diana Hotiou in her first match. Karamanoli took a 2-0 lead, with Roumana tying the game at 2-2 and eventually taking the win by fall. In her second match, Karamanoli was defeated by Ukrainian Daria Malchevska 10-1.

Five medals at World Veterans

Yiannis Kargiotakis paired his gold medals in the event. After that at 130k. of the category up to 40 years old (No Gi), climbed to the highest step of the podium and to the corresponding one in kimono.

The Greek world champion first defeated Iran’s Karim Nezadporhossein 3-1 to follow up a commanding performance over American Anthony Okoli in the final. Kargiotakis was “stormy” and defeated his opponent 15-0.

And Savvas Karipidis doubled his medals in the event. In the group of -92k. in the under-40 category he beat Hungary’s Gabor Huzar 3-0, but lost the gold to Kazakhstan’s Ramazan Kusaynov 5-2, taking the silver medal after gold in the No Gi category.

Double joy for Giorgos Kelassidis who climbed for the second time on the winners’ podium. In the final of the -66k. of the under-40 category, he faced Kazakhstan’s Bekbolat Baynazarov in a great battle, where the gold medal was decided in overtime. In normal time, Kelasidis led 2-0, the Kazakh made the upset at 3-2, but the Greek champion managed to equalize at 3-3.

In the overtime, finally, Bainazarov found himself in an advantageous position and managed to pull off a technique that led to the defeat of Kelassidis, who, however, celebrated his second silver medal in the event after the one in the No Gi category.

Nikos Panoutsos at -92k. in the category up to 50 years old, he won the bronze medal, as he was defeated by the American Nagloski in the crucial match.

Ilias Boukis won the silver medal in the -100km. (up to 40 years old), as he was defeated in the final by Moldovan Eldar Rafigaev.