Competing in Greco-Roman style 130 kg at the 2023 European Wrestling Championship, which will end tomorrow in Croatia, Rıza Kayaalp became the European champion for the 12th time.
Rıza Kayaalp, who struggled to share the record of Russian athlete Aleksandr Karelin, who has 12 European championships, in 130 kg, beat Serbian Boris Petrusici (8-0) in his first match, and Norwegian Oskar Markıv 8-0 in the quarter-finals with the number key. he won. In the semi-finals, he beat Lithuanian Mantas Kenetstautas (8-0) with the point button and advanced to the final. In the final, Rıza faced Azerbaijani Sabah Saleh Shariati for the 12th championship. Starting the match with control, Rıza got his first point by moving his opponent off the mat (1-0). Rıza, who got 1 more point due to his opponent’s passive wrestling, wanted his opponent on the ground in the parter position. However, the national wrestler, who could not score, made the score (2-0). Rıza, who started the second half with momentum, gave 1 point to his opponent when he wrestled passively (2-1). Even though Azeri wrestler Shariati pushed, in the last seconds, Riza did not give up the fight and won the match (2-1), reaching his 12th European championship.
RIZA KAYAALP IS THE 12TH TIME EUROPEAN CHAMPION
Competing in Greco-Roman style 130 kg, national athlete Rıza Kayaalp shared the record of Russian athlete Aleksandr Karelin, who has 12 European championships. Defeating Azerbaijani Sabah Saleh Shariati in the 2023 European Championship final, Kayaalp reached the top of Europe 12 times.
Rıza won gold medals in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM MINISTER KASAPOĞLU TO RIZA KAYAALP
Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu has issued a congratulatory message to Rıza Kayaalp, who won the Greco-Roman 130 kg gold medal at the European Wrestling Championship held in Croatia.
Minister Kasapoğlu gave the following statements in his congratulatory message;
“I heartily congratulate Rıza Kayaalp, who won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman style 130 kilograms at the European Wrestling Championship held in Zagreb, the Capital of Croatia. Reaching the European Championship for the 12th time, Rıza Kayaalp equaled the record of Russian Alexander Karelin, who also won 12 European championships. and he became the athlete with the most medals in the European Championships with a total of 13 medals. I congratulate Rıza Kayaalp, who has added new victories to his brilliant career, and wish him continued success. I would like to thank those who contributed to the waving of our crescent-star flag and the playing of our National Anthem at the European Wrestling Championships. I do.”