News and Notes: Greco-Roman Wrestling 66kg and 98kg Final Session

By United World Wrestling Press

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6:31: Two-time world champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), ranked No.1 in the world, topped Yasmany Daniel LUGO CABRERA (CUB) to win the gold medal at 98kg. Aleksanyan used a gut wrench to go up 2-0 in the first period. He added a passivity point in the third period. After the match Aleksanyan was overcome with emotion as he celebrated with the Armenian coach. Aleksanyan adds a gold medal to an Olympic medal collection that already included a bronze from London. He becomes Armenia's second Olympic gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. 

6:14: Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) overcame a four-point deficit to defeat Carl Fredrik Stefan SCHOEN (SWE) and claim a bronze medal at 98kg. It marks the second straight Olympic medal for Rezaei, who won gold in the London Olympics. Schoen went up 4-0 after a takedown and gut wrench in the first period. The Iranian battled back in the second period, scoring with back-to-back gut wrenches to make the score 4-4 and ultimately give him the victory on criteria. 

6:01: Two-time world bronze medalist Cenk ILDEM (TUR), ranked No.6 in the world, registered a 4-0 shutout victory over Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) in the first bronze-medal match at 98kg. Ildem scored first off a caution for two points, and then countered a turn attempt to go up 4-0, which is how the match would end. After the match the Turkey coach ran onto the mat and threw him in celebration. Ildem was 11th in the previous Olympic Games in London. 

5:25: There will be a break for the awards ceremony at 66kg. 

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5:23:  Davor STEFANEK (SRB) captured the gold medal at 66kg and became Serbia's first-ever Olympic medalist in wrestling. He defeated Migran ARUTYUNYAN (ARM) 1-1 in the gold-medal match. The Armenian scored first off a step out and took a 1-0 lead into the second period. The 30-year-old Stefanek, though, was able to score a passivity point in the second period and win on criteria. He celebrated with a backflip. 

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5:07: In a battle of past world champions, Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) picked up an 8-0 technical fall over RYU Hansu (KOR) in the second bronze-medal match at 66kg. Chunayev, who won his world title at 71kg last year, locked up a gut wrench in the first period and scored with four turns to finish the match.

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5:00: World No.10 Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO), a 2014 junior world champion and 2013 junior world silver medalist, needed just one point to defeat Tomohiro INOUE (JPN) and secure the first bronze medal at 66kg. The Georgian scored the only point of the match in the second period off a passivity. 

4:46: 2012 Olympic champion Ghasem Gholamreza REZAEI (IRI) blanked XIAO di (CHN) 7-0 to reach the bronze-medal match at 98kg. Rezaei showcased his strong par terre skills, scoring with two gut wrenches on his way to the victory. 

4:32: Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) blanked Daigoro TIMONCINI (ITA) 3-0 to advance to the bronze-medal match at 98kg. Ciurariu scored a step point and then secured a gut wrench for two more points. 

4:19: In repechage at 66kg, RYU Hansu (KOR), a 2013 world champion and 2015 world silver medalist, broke open a 1-0 match in the second period against Adham Ahmed Saleh KAHK (EGY) with a throw that netted him four points (two for the lift and two for the leg foul) to claim a 5-0 victory. 

4:06: Tomohiro INOUE (JPN) started the repechage at 66kg by defeating returning world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) 2-2 on criteria. Staebler appeared to be in control after getting a point off passivity and a step out point. However, in the final 30 seconds Inoue was able to secure a takedown and hold on for the victory.