Turkey scores first medal in London

ISTANBUL

REUTERS Photo

Turkish wrestler Rıza Kayaalp won a bronze medal yesterday at the Olympic Games in London, bringing his country its long-awaited first medal of the 2012 Games.
 
Kayaalp lost to his Cuban opponent Lopez Nunez in the semi-finals but emerged victorious in the bronze-medal fight against Georgia’s Guram Pherselidze.
 
Kayaalp rejoiced with fans at the stadium and circled around the mat holding a Turkish flag.
 
"I'm very happy to be the first [Turkish] athlete to get a medal here in the Games," Kayaalp said. "I hope this will provide moral support to my friends."
 
Nunez later won the gold medal against Estonia’s Heiki Nabi in the first-place tilt.