24.10.2026 20:01
At the World Wrestling Championships held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, national wrestler Yüksel Sarıçiçek, competing in the Greco-Roman 82 kg category, advanced to the final in his first senior championship. Sarıçiçek, who defeated Olympic medalist Kyrgyz Akzhol Makhmudov 6-0 in the semifinal, will face last world champion Iranian Gholamreza Javad Farokhisenjani in the gold medal match tomorrow.
At the World Wrestling Championships held in KAZAKHSTAN, national athlete Yüksel Sarıçiçek, competing in Greco-Roman 82 kg, advanced to the final. Yüksel, who stepped onto the mat in the senior category for the first time, will face the reigning world champion, Iran's Gholamreza Javad Farokhisenjani, in tomorrow's gold medal match.
On the first day of the organization in the capital Astana, qualification, quarter-final and semi-final matches were held in Greco-Roman 55, 60, 77 and 82 kg.
HE DEFEATED THE OLYMPIC RUNNER-UP 6-0 IN THE SEMI-FINAL
Yüksel Sarıçiçek, representing Turkey in Greco-Roman 82 kg, advanced to the semi-final by defeating Chinese Halishan Bahejiang 7-5 in the second round and Qatari Shahin Eidimohammad Badaghımofrad 10-2 by technical superiority in the quarter-final. In the semi-final, the national wrestler faced Kyrgyz Akzhol Makhmudov, who holds two world championships, an Olympic silver and a bronze at 77 kg. Yüksel, who defeated his opponent 6-0, secured his place in the final.
GOD WILLING, I WILL RETURN TO MY COUNTRY AS WORLD CHAMPION
Yüksel Sarıçiçek, wrestling for the first time in the senior category at World Championships, said in his statement to members of the press after the semi-final match: "I had tough matches. I beat the Olympic runner-up in the semi-final. God willing, I will return to my country as world champion. I believe it. In particular, our president Taha Akgül has great belief in us. I am also especially happy that I did not disappoint his expectations. We ask our Turkish people for many prayers for tomorrow's final and for my older brothers who will wrestle. God willing, we will take the belt and return to our country." Emphasizing that they had prepared very well for the championship, the national athlete commented: "During the Erzurum camp, we were climbing to an altitude of 3,200 meters. That also gives us an advantage; we can really manage our heart rate well."
Meanwhile, national wrestlers Ömer Halis Recep (55 kg), Enes Başar (60 kg) and Ahmet Yılmaz (77 kg) bid farewell to the tournament.