PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (March 8) – As Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) patted Istvan TAKACS (HUN) on the back and handed him the Hungarian flag, it marked a symbolic moment in the country's Greco-Roman history.
This was the passing of baton at 87kg for Hungary as Lorincz, a silver medalist from Tokyo Olympics, guided rising star Takacs to the gold medal at the U23 European Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Five gold medals were decided Tuesday and Hungary claimed a pair while Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey got one each.
“I am very, very happy with the performance,” Lorincz said.
The 31-year-old sat shouted instructions as Takacs and Dariusz VITEK (HUN) won the 87kg and 130kg respectively. Moreover, the three-time World Championships medalist never made the moment about himself as a coach but his wrestlers.
Hungary took home the first gold after Takacs' incredible performance in the final against junior European champion Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), who looked on a mission to win his first U23-level gold.
He had in his pocket for the most part of the final, leading 4-1 with two minutes remaining in the six-minute bout. He was awarded a point for Takacs' passivity in the first period and while trying a gut-wrench, he ended up giving a point for reversal.
But he capitalized on a failed arm-spin of his opponent and led 3-1 going into the break. Another passivity point increased his lead to 4-1 but he could not inflict any further damage.
“I was prepared to give up the first point against him [Bisultanov] because he works more in the first period,” Takacs said. “But I knew I have to come hard in the second period.”
Bisultanov continued to put forward pressure and it was one of these moments when Takacs moved out of the way and scored a takedown. A gut-wrench made it 5-4 for the Hungarian with a minute left.
Istvan TAKACS (HUN) celebrates after winning the gold in Plovdiv. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)
The moment left Lorincz celebrating with a fist-pump before he hugged his ward and sent him for a victory lap.
But both Lorincz and Takacs know that this is only the beginning of the road to the senior national team. As a matter of fact, Takacs could not make it to that team for this month's home European Championships in Budapest.
Former U23 world champion Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) is on the roaster but that also means that Lorincz and Takacs have their task cut out for the year with the Hungarian Championships scheduled before the September senior World Championships. The national champion will be heading to Belgrade, Serbia.
“I used to wrestle with him in training so I know where he can improve and I will continue to help him to make the senior team,” Lorincz said.
Takacs, a bronze medalist from last year's U23 Euros, is banking on his hard work and coach's knowledge to make the weight class his own.
“I don't feel the pressure of Lorincz's achievement as my coach,” he said. “Actually, he will only help me become better and win constantly.”
Dariusz VITEK (HUN) defetaed Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) in the 130kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)
At 130kg, a battle of two bronze medalists from last year saw Vitek come out on top 1-1 against Fatih BOZKURT (TUR).
Vitek was put in par terre in the first period while Bozkurt was penalized in the second. With the score 1-1 and Vitek leading on criteria, it was a matter of which wrestler will blink first.
The referees once again called Vitek passive but no points are awarded for the third passivity call. However, Bozkurt could not score points despite getting the top position, giving Vitek the win.
Emre MUTLU (TUR) pinned Denis DEMIROV (BUL) in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)
Turkey's lone gold medal came at 55kg when Emre MUTLU (TUR) battled hard to secure a victory via fall against Denis DEMIROV (BUL) who was backed by a vocal home crowd.
Like his semifinal in which he staged a comeback from a 7-0 deficit, Mutlu recovered from 5-0 in the final. He was cautioned for blocking Demirov's attack with his hand on the neck. He was called passive to further trail 3-0. Demirov managed to get a roll and lead 5-0.
In the second period, Demirov was called for inactivity and a front-head lock from Mutlu gave him four. Demirov's reversal for four from standing was given four. But Turkey challenged the call and Demirov's move was called a leg foul when rewatched. Mutlu led 8-5 at this point. A desperate move from Demirov failed and Mutlu secured the fall.
Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO) won the 63kg final 3-0. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)
Georgia and Azerbaijan exchanged gold medals at 63kg and 77kg as both bouts had the Azerbaijan-Georgia pair.
Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO) battled it out with Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) to earn a 3-0 win in the 63kg final. The former cadet and junior world champion scored a takedown inside 30 seconds. He was up 3-0 once Babashov was called passive in the second period and maintained that lead with some solid defense to win the top medal.
But Khasay HASANLI (AZE) made sure the results were reversed at 77kg by winning the gold medal after a quick 10-0 win against Davit SOLOGASHVILI (GEO).
When Sologashvili was called passive in the first period, Hasanli was already up 2-0. He lifted the Georgian from par terre and tried going for an overhead throw. But seeing the momentum in the opposite direction because of his opponent's defense, Hasanli put Sologashvili pushed to his back and scored four.
An exposure added two more points to give him a 9-0 win. Georgia challenged the call but lost giving more points to Hasanli and the gold medal.
Khasay HASANLI (AZE) finished the 77kg inside first period. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)
But Georgia will have a chance to win five gold medals Wednesday as all their remaining Greco-Roman wrestlers reached the summit clashes led by junior World Championships silver medalist Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO). He took out U23 world champion Idris IBAEV (GER) earlier in the day.
Women's wrestling will also begin Wednesday with five weight classes – 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg – in action.
RESULTS
GR Medal Bouts
55kg
GOLD: Emre MUTLU (TUR) df Denis DEMIROV (BUL), via fall
BRONZE: Artiom DELEANU (MDA) df Steven ECKER (GER), 7-6
BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df Azat SEDRAKYAN (ARM), 6-0
63kg
GOLD: Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO) df Ziya BABASHOV (AZE), 3-0
BRONZE: Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) df Vladimir HAROYAN (ARM), 3-1
BRONZE: Ilia MUSTAKOV (BUL) df Abere FETENE (ISR), 9-5
77kg
GOLD: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df Davit SOLOGASHVILI (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Krisztofer KLANYI (HUN) df Aleksa ILIC (SRB), 4-1
BRONZE: Abdurrahman KALKAN (TUR) df Patryk BEDNARZ (POL), 5-0
87kg
GOLD: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), 5-4
BRONZE: Lachin VALIYEV (AZE) df Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM), 6-5
BRONZE: Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL) df Matej MANDIC (CRO), 8-0
130kg
GOLD: Dariusz VITEK (HUN) df Fatih BOZKURT (TUR), 1-1
BRONZE: Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO) df Tomasz WAWRZYNCZYK (POL), 1-1
BRONZE: Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) df Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE), 6-1
Day 2 Semifinals
60kg
GOLD: Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO) vs Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE)
SF 1: Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO) df Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 9-0
SF 2: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df Tigran MINASYAN (ARM), 9-0
67kg
GOLD: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) vs Kadir KAMAL (TUR)
SF 1: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Ignazio SANFILIPPO (ITA), 9-0
SF 2: Kadir KAMAL (TUR) df Niklas OEHLEN (SWE), 8-1
72kg
GOLD: Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) vs Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
SF 1: Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) df Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 4-0
SF 2: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR), 7-0
82kg
GOLD: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) vs Beka GURULI (GEO)
SF 1: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df Vasile COJOC (ROU), 8-0
SF 2: Beka GURULI (GEO) df Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB), 3-3
97kg
GOLD: Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) vs Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)
SF 1: Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) df Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED), 4-0
SF 2: Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) df Richard KARELSON (EST), 9-0
