In an impressive way, the World Championship of Olympic Veterans Wrestling woke up in the full indoor gym of Loutraki.
The matches were honored with their presence by the Deputy Minister of Sports Yannis Vroutsis, the Vice-President of the World Wrestling Federation, Thodoris Hamakos, the President of the European Council of the International Wrestling Federation (UWW) and the Mayor of Loutraki, Perachora and Agios Theodoros Giorgos Gionis, who they were even honored by the Hellenic Wrestling Federation.
On the first day of the games, the great matches, the passion and the rich spectacle dominated, while there was no lack of awards, as from the Greek side, Dimitris Athanasiadis touched the winners’ podium, occupying 5th place.
After the end of the games, the Iranian Federation donated two books of traditional wrestling material to the Greek Federation as a token of friendship.
D. Trabakoulas: “We hope for greater extroversion”:
The deputy president of the Hellenic Wrestling Federation, Dimitris Trabakoulas, in his greeting said: “It is with great honor and joy that I welcome you to the World Championship of Veteran Olympic Wrestling held in Greece. I feel particularly proud that my country continues to hold very big games.
From the previous Saturday to the coming Sunday, 1000 athletes will compete in the beautiful Loutraki and send the resounding message that sports never ends. A very large organization that strengthens Greece and Loutraki in many areas. It increases sports tourism, especially in the non-tourist season, and gives the opportunity to Greek athletes to compete in World Championships at the lowest possible cost.
Mr. Minister, once again, we thank you for standing by Greek Wrestling and we hope for your support for even greater extroversion.
At the same time, I would like to especially thank the vice-president of the World Federation, Thodoris Hamakos, who supports the efforts of Greek Wrestling and is always close to us.
We sincerely hope you enjoy your stay in Greece and see great matches without injuries.
Vroutsis: “I announce that in one month from now, the wrestling roof in the Olympic Village will be ready”
During his greeting at the opening ceremony of the Games, the Deputy Minister of Sports Giannis Vroutsis reserved some great news. As announced, the wrestling roof in the Olympic Village will be ready in a short period of time.
In detail, he stated: “Mr. president, vice-president of world wrestling and representatives of the federation, friends of the sport and friends of referees. I especially want to welcome all the athletes and wrestling players, especially from the other countries, who came to celebrate this event. I welcome and welcome you to the land where the Olympics were born, the land where sport was born, the land where wrestling was born, the sport you compete in and love.
I wish the organizers to host a nice event and promote the sport. I will be next to wrestling because it is a separate sport that combines many things. This is where wrestling was born. It is the most difficult sport in terms of sport, but also a sport that requires smart handling. The combination of intelligence and a strong body is what makes wrestling stand out and that’s why I want to be around the sport. I have said before that whatever you need we will always be by your side” said the minister who then announced some good news.
“I announce that in one month from now, the wrestling roof in the Olympic Village will be ready. In a month we will have the inauguration,” he declared amid applause.”
Hamakos: “Congratulations to ELOP for the great participation”
The vice-president of the World Federation, Theodoros Hamakos, who was honored by the Hellenic Wrestling Federation, congratulated the great participation in the event and announced the start of the games.
He said in detail: “Friends, athletes, coaches, referees. Welcome to Loutraki for the World Veterans Championship. On behalf of the World Federation we wish you every success. We have to give many thanks to the Hellenic Federation for the undertaking and the very large participation of the organization.
I express my congratulations to the mayor of Loutraki George Gionis for the organization.
Deputy Minister of Sports we are happy and we are sure that your help in Wrestling will be valuable.
I would like to welcome Karl Martin Dittmann Bureau Member and President of the European Wrestling Federation to address a greeting.
On behalf of the executive office, I declare the official opening of the Veterans Games.
G. Gionis: “We will be on the side of Palis”
The Mayor of Loutraki, Perachora and Agioi Theodoros, in turn stated: “I welcome you to Loutraki. I hope you have a nice stay and enjoy the races. It is an honor for us to host such a large event. We are next to Pali and we will continue to be, in order for other big events to come to our city.”
Dimitris Athanasiadis is a breath away from the podium
Dimitris Athanasiadis touched the bronze medal at the World Veterans Wrestling Championship whose curtain opened at the indoor gym “G. Galanopoulos” in Loutraki.
The Greek wrestler showed from the first moment that he was aiming for the winners’ podium and did everything to win a medal, but in the end fatigue was enough.
Athanasiadis competed at 88k. of category E (up to 60 years old) and started from the qualifying round, being No. 3 on the board.
With an excellent performance in his first match, Athanasiadis defeated Nurzhan Asilbekov (No. 2). The Greek champion took an early 2-0 lead. A missed challenge allowed the Kazakh to reduce to 2-1 to be followed by 4 unanswered points from Athanasiadis that took him to the 8th round.
There he was confronted with the No. 1 on the board, Nikolas Caramiello. Again the Greek champions took a 1-0 lead, with the Italian equalizing from a penalty, but Athanasiadis was undaunted, becoming more aggressive and cruising to a 5-1 victory.
In the semi-final, against Igor Doguchaev (he plays as an independent), Athanasiadis did not manage to start as strongly and was defeated 4-0.
In the bronze medal match against Iran’s Johari Sefid, he initially led 4-0 to reach victory over Athanasiadis by fall and climb to the 3rd step of the podium.
The gold medal was won by Igor Dokuchaev, the silver by the German Guido Meltzer.
Meanwhile, Spyros Koursaris experienced two defeats at 130k. (up to 45 years old). In his first match in Group B he was defeated by fall by the Romanian Podar Peto and in the second by technical superiority by the Russian Anton Fetisov (he competes as an independent).
From then on, he was unlucky and stopped at 78 minutes. (up to 45 years) Amir Allah as in the qualifier against the German Markus Dufferner injured his left thigh during the match and had to retire.
On Wednesday (18/10) the program continues with Greco-Roman wrestling in the categories of Veterans III (up to 50 years old) and IV (up to 55 years old)
Greece will be represented by eight wrestlers:
Veterans III: 78k. Andreas Kliousis (5 appearances)
88 k. Emzarios Bendinidis, Pavlos Koronidis, Nikolaos Panoutsos, Christos Tortopidis (16 appearances)
130kg Abraham Papadopoulos, Apostolos Stamos (11 appearances)
Veterans D’: 78k. Ioannis Athanasiadis (16 appearances).
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