Two matches, two defeats for Turks on mat

LONDON

Two-time world champion Selçuk Çebi looks dejected after losing his match.

Turkey got off to a poor start in the Olympic wrestling competition, with two athletes losing their round-of-16 games yesterday. 

Two-time world champion Selçuk Çebi lost to Robert Rosengren of Sweden 2-1 in a men’s 74 kg Greco-Roman match in the London Olympic Games. Ayhan Karakuş also lost to his Cuban opponent Gustavo Balart 2-0 in their men’s 55 kg Greco-Roman match. 

According to the rules, a player can enter the repessage rounds if the wrestler that he lost to advances to the final. However, both Balart and Rosengren lost their quarterfinals, depriving Rosengren and Çebi of their chances to fight their way to a possible bronze medal. 

Three Turkish wrestlers will be on the mat today, with Rahman Bilici, Nazmi Avluca and Rıza Kayaalp competing in the men’s 60kg, 84kg and 120 kg Greco-Roman respectively. 

With 52 of the 82 medals in Turkey’s Olympic history, wrestling is the country’s traditional stronghold in the Games.