The second day for the Greek colors at the World Veterans Olympic Wrestling Championship, which is being held in Loutraki, ended with two medals. Greece won a gold medal and a bronze and opened… an account in the event. The “gold” medal was won by Emzarios Bendinidis at 88k. under 50 and repeated the success he had two years ago. Andreas Kleousis also climbed to the winners’ podium, who wore the bronze medal on his chest in the 78kg category. up to 50 years old.
With the National Anthem… shaking the closed gymnasium of Loutraki, the Greek delegation won its first medals, on a day when great wrestling glories, Olympians and World champions competed.
Bentinidis is world class
Emzarios Bentinidis returned to his throne! The Greek champion was on top of the world at the World Veteran Wrestling Championship hosted in Loutraki. The Greek Olympian in the most emphatic way regained the scepter at 88k. of the category of veterans C’ (under 50 years old) even beating the title holder Adrian Rekorean from Romania in the final.
On October 21, 2021, Bentinidis was crowned world champion in an event that was again hosted in Loutraki. Two years later, the Greek Olympian had the same goal. To be at the top, regaining his title in the category.
From his first match he showed his intention. He did not face any difficulties against Osama Elsoghambri, as a result of which the Egyptian left the arena defeated, as Bentinidis prevailed with technical superiority (10-2).
Akathektos continued in the quarter-final of the 88k. (up to 580 years old). The American Alsandro Turner was not able to stop the momentum of the Greek wrestler who turned the fight into a procedural one, prevailing with technical superiority (10-0) in just 55 seconds.
In the semi-final, the Mongolian Bayarmaghnai Norzin showed from the beginning that he could not compete with the Greek Olympian and was content with a passive role, which cost him 2 points. Bentinidis did not stop for a moment trying to consolidate his victory, not being satisfied with the points from penalties and he succeeded in winning 6-0, as a result of which he went to the grand final.
There, Rekorean clearly proved to be a stronger opponent for Bentinides, but not enough for him to retain his title. The Greek wrestler prevailed, playing smartly, 4-0 and was crowned world champion for the second time, returning to his throne.
The bronze medal was won by Bayarmaghnai Norgin of Mongolia and Ibrahim Zengin of France.
At 88k. (up to 50 years old) Pavlos Koronidis and Christos Tortopidis competed. Koronidis was defeated by technical superiority (11-0) by Alaibek Bekmurzaev from Kyrgyzstan and Christos Tortopidis lost to Romanian Adrian Recorean. In the repechage he competed against the French Ibrahim Zengin where he failed to win.
Bronze Kliousis
After the gold medal won by Bentinidis came a second medal for the Greek colors, this time of a bronze hue. At 78k. of category C (up to 50 years old) Andreas Kleousis made an excellent appearance and climbed to the winners’ podium, taking 3rd place in the group he competed in.
He entered the games strongly, showing from the start that he would claim a medal. Although he was twice behind with 2-0 and 3-2, in the end he prevailed 6-3 against Pavel Timonov (independent) in the first match which proved to be decisive for the medal.
Despite losses to American Rudolph James, who was crowned world champion, and Anis Gabry of France, who took silver, Kleousis held off Timonov and took the bronze medal.
At 130k. Avraam Papadopoulos didn’t make it in the qualifier, and he was also unlucky. Nine seconds before the end – and while he was losing 4-0 to the American Gabriel Boperti – he was injured and had to withdraw. In the same category, Apostolos Stamos was defeated by fall by Turkish Aydin Halimoglu in the qualifier.
On Thursday (18/10) the program of the World Cup in Loutraki continues with category A (up to 40 years old).
At 70k, Efthymis Tserepas was drawn with the American Orlando Samuel Jimenez in the qualifying round, with the quarterfinals in the background.
At 88 kg, Heraklis Siamidis will have his first opponent in the “16” phase, the Georgian Temur Gelitashvili.
At 100 kg, Ioannis Boukis will enter the qualifiers against Turkish Ahmed Bilitsi, aiming to qualify for the “8”.
At 130 kg, Ioannis Papadopoulos was drawn in the qualifier against the American Mingo Marcus Grant Jr.
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