Turkey lineup set for Freestyle Wrestling World Cup in Los Angeles, Calif., June 11-12
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
The wrestling federation of Turkey has provided its lineup for the 2016 Men’s Freestyle Wrestling World Cup at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., June 11-12.
The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, and will feature the top eight men’s freestyle wrestling teams in the world.
Leading the Turkish team is two-time World medalist Selim Yasar at 86 kg/189 lbs. Yasar was second in the 2015 World Championships and third in the 2014 World Chamopionships. He was also a 2009 Junior World champion, one of three past Junior World champions on the Turkish World Cup team.
The other two past Junior World champions are Suleyman Atli at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and Selahattin Kilicsallayan at 70 kg/154 lbs. Atli won the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier earlier this year to qualify his nation for the Olympics. Kilicsallayan was also a 2014 World University champion.
Competing at 74 kg is 2016 European champion Soner Demirtas, who was second in the 2010 Junior World Championships. Demirtas won the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul to qualify Turkey for the Olympics at this weight class.
Others to watch are 2014 European Championships runner-up Servet Coskun at 65 kg/143 lbs. and 2015 Junior World bronze medalist Yunus Emre Dede at 125 kg/275 lbs.
Turkey placed sixth at the 2015 World Championships, which were held in Las Vegas, Nev. Turkey also placed eighth in the 2015 World Cup.
The eight nations which will compete for the World Cup are (alphabetically) Azerbaijan, Georgia, India, Iran, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey and the United States. Nations were invited based upon final team standings at the 2015 World Championships.
Turkey has drawn into Group A, where it will face Georgia, Russia and Mongolia.
The 2014 and 2015 Freestyle World Cup were also held in Los Angeles, with Iran winning the team title both years. The United States was second at the 2015 World Cup and third at the 2014 World Cup.
Turkey Freestyle World Cup Team Roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Suleyman Atli
61 kg/134 lbs. – Recep Topal
65 kg/143 lbs. – Servet Coskun
70 kg/154 lbs. – Selahattin Kilicsallayan
74 kg/163 lbs. – Soner Demirtas
86 kg/189 lbs. – Selim Yasar
97 kg/213 lbs. – to be determined
125 kg/275 lbs. –Yunus Emre Dede
Team Leader – Mustafa Fidan
Coach – Yuksel Sanli
Coach – Adem Bereket
Referee – Tulay Karayazi
Massage Therapist – Erol Cesur
Turkey World Cup bios
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Suleyman Atli
2013 Junior World champion… 2016 1st World Olympic Qualifier champion (Turkey)… Third in 2016 European Olympic Qualifier… 2016 Yasar Dogu International champion (Turkey)… Fourth in 2013 Moscow Lights (Russia)… 2013 European Junior champion… Seventh in 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Eighth in 2012 European Junior Championships… Seventh in 2011 European Cadet Championships… Born: July 27, 1994… Age: 21
61 kg/134 lbs. – Recep Topal
Third in 2016 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)…. Third in 2015 European U23 Championships… Fifth in 2015 Ziolkowski Memorial (Poland)… Fourth in 2013 and 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Eighth in 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… 10th in 2012 Dmitri Korkin International (Russia)… Competed in 2011 Junior World Championships… Second in 2009 European Cadet Championships… Born: October 29, 1992… Age: 23
65 kg/143 lbs. – Servet Coskun
Second in 2014 European Championships… Fifth in 2015 Alrosa Cup (Russia)… Fourth in 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Ninth in 2014 Ziolkowski Memorial (Poland)… Third in 2014 Medved Prizes (Belarus)… Third in Dan Kolov International (Bulgaria)… 2013 Dan Kolov International champion (Bulgaria)… Third in 2011 and 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Second in 2012 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Fourth in 2011 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Third in 2011 Grand Prix of Spain… Competed in 2009 Junior World Championships… Fifth in 2007 Cadet European Championships… Second in 2006 Cadet European Championships… Born: October 28, 1990… Age: 25
70 kg/154 lbs. – Selahattin Kilicsallayan
2014 World University champion… 2013 Junior World champion…Eighth in 2015 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Ninth in 2015 European Championships… Fourth in 2013 and 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)…Seventh in 2014 Dan Kolov International (Bulgaria)… 2013 Junior European champion… 10th in 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Competed in 2012 Junior World Championships… Born: October 18, 1993… Age: 22
74 kg/163 lbs. – Soner Demirtas
2016 2nd World Olympic Qualifier champion (Turkey)… 2016 European champion… Third in 2016 Medved Prizes (Belarus)… Third in 2014 and 2016 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)…. Fifth in 2015 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Fifth in 2015 Alarosa Cup (Russia)… Competed in 2013, 2014 and 2015 World Championships… Second in 2015 European Games… Second in 2014 Medved Prizes (Belarus)… Third in 2014 Dan Kolov International (Bulgaria)… Fourth in 2011 and 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)… 2013 Mediterranean Games champion… 2013 Ali Aliev Tournament champion (Russia)… Second in 2012 and 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)…. Eighth in 2012 World University Championships… Third in 2012 Ziolkowski Memorial (Poland)… Fifth in 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournament… Fifth in 2012 European Championships… Second in 2010 Junior World Championships… Second in 2010 European Junior Championships… Born: June 25, 1991… Age: 24
86 kg/189 lbs. – Selim Yasar
Second in 2015 World Championships… Third in 2014 World Championships… 2009 Junior World champion…. Eighth in 2016 European Championships… Second in 2016 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… 2015 Ziolkowski Memorial champion (Poland)… Fifth in 2013 Ali Aliev Tournament (Russia)… Second in 2012 New York AC International… Third in 2012 Intercontinental Cup (Russia)… Fifth in 2012 Stepan Sargsyan International (Armenia)…. Third in 2011 Kartozia and Balavadze Prize (Georgia)…Third in 2010 New York AC International… 2009 and 2010 European Junior champion…. Born: January 20, 1990… Age: 26
97 kg/213 lbs. – to be determined
125 kg/275 lbs. –Yunus Emre Dede
Third in 2015 Junior World Championships… Third in 2016 European U23 Championships… Eighth in 2015 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Fifth in 2015 Alrosa Cup (Russia)… Second in 2015 European Junior Championships… Fourth in 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Fifth in 2014 Junior World Championships… Second in 2014 European Junior Championships… Third in 2014 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Competed in 2013 Junior World Championships… Third in 2012 Cadet World Championships… 2012 European Cadet champion… Born: October 2, 1995… Age: 21
The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, and will feature the top eight men’s freestyle wrestling teams in the world.
Leading the Turkish team is two-time World medalist Selim Yasar at 86 kg/189 lbs. Yasar was second in the 2015 World Championships and third in the 2014 World Chamopionships. He was also a 2009 Junior World champion, one of three past Junior World champions on the Turkish World Cup team.
The other two past Junior World champions are Suleyman Atli at 57 kg/125.5 lbs. and Selahattin Kilicsallayan at 70 kg/154 lbs. Atli won the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier earlier this year to qualify his nation for the Olympics. Kilicsallayan was also a 2014 World University champion.
Competing at 74 kg is 2016 European champion Soner Demirtas, who was second in the 2010 Junior World Championships. Demirtas won the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul to qualify Turkey for the Olympics at this weight class.
Others to watch are 2014 European Championships runner-up Servet Coskun at 65 kg/143 lbs. and 2015 Junior World bronze medalist Yunus Emre Dede at 125 kg/275 lbs.
Turkey placed sixth at the 2015 World Championships, which were held in Las Vegas, Nev. Turkey also placed eighth in the 2015 World Cup.
The eight nations which will compete for the World Cup are (alphabetically) Azerbaijan, Georgia, India, Iran, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey and the United States. Nations were invited based upon final team standings at the 2015 World Championships.
Turkey has drawn into Group A, where it will face Georgia, Russia and Mongolia.
The 2014 and 2015 Freestyle World Cup were also held in Los Angeles, with Iran winning the team title both years. The United States was second at the 2015 World Cup and third at the 2014 World Cup.
Turkey Freestyle World Cup Team Roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Suleyman Atli
61 kg/134 lbs. – Recep Topal
65 kg/143 lbs. – Servet Coskun
70 kg/154 lbs. – Selahattin Kilicsallayan
74 kg/163 lbs. – Soner Demirtas
86 kg/189 lbs. – Selim Yasar
97 kg/213 lbs. – to be determined
125 kg/275 lbs. –Yunus Emre Dede
Team Leader – Mustafa Fidan
Coach – Yuksel Sanli
Coach – Adem Bereket
Referee – Tulay Karayazi
Massage Therapist – Erol Cesur
Turkey World Cup bios
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Suleyman Atli
2013 Junior World champion… 2016 1st World Olympic Qualifier champion (Turkey)… Third in 2016 European Olympic Qualifier… 2016 Yasar Dogu International champion (Turkey)… Fourth in 2013 Moscow Lights (Russia)… 2013 European Junior champion… Seventh in 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Eighth in 2012 European Junior Championships… Seventh in 2011 European Cadet Championships… Born: July 27, 1994… Age: 21
61 kg/134 lbs. – Recep Topal
Third in 2016 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)…. Third in 2015 European U23 Championships… Fifth in 2015 Ziolkowski Memorial (Poland)… Fourth in 2013 and 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Eighth in 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… 10th in 2012 Dmitri Korkin International (Russia)… Competed in 2011 Junior World Championships… Second in 2009 European Cadet Championships… Born: October 29, 1992… Age: 23
65 kg/143 lbs. – Servet Coskun
Second in 2014 European Championships… Fifth in 2015 Alrosa Cup (Russia)… Fourth in 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Ninth in 2014 Ziolkowski Memorial (Poland)… Third in 2014 Medved Prizes (Belarus)… Third in Dan Kolov International (Bulgaria)… 2013 Dan Kolov International champion (Bulgaria)… Third in 2011 and 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Second in 2012 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Fourth in 2011 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Third in 2011 Grand Prix of Spain… Competed in 2009 Junior World Championships… Fifth in 2007 Cadet European Championships… Second in 2006 Cadet European Championships… Born: October 28, 1990… Age: 25
70 kg/154 lbs. – Selahattin Kilicsallayan
2014 World University champion… 2013 Junior World champion…Eighth in 2015 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Ninth in 2015 European Championships… Fourth in 2013 and 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)…Seventh in 2014 Dan Kolov International (Bulgaria)… 2013 Junior European champion… 10th in 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Competed in 2012 Junior World Championships… Born: October 18, 1993… Age: 22
74 kg/163 lbs. – Soner Demirtas
2016 2nd World Olympic Qualifier champion (Turkey)… 2016 European champion… Third in 2016 Medved Prizes (Belarus)… Third in 2014 and 2016 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)…. Fifth in 2015 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Fifth in 2015 Alarosa Cup (Russia)… Competed in 2013, 2014 and 2015 World Championships… Second in 2015 European Games… Second in 2014 Medved Prizes (Belarus)… Third in 2014 Dan Kolov International (Bulgaria)… Fourth in 2011 and 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)… 2013 Mediterranean Games champion… 2013 Ali Aliev Tournament champion (Russia)… Second in 2012 and 2013 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)…. Eighth in 2012 World University Championships… Third in 2012 Ziolkowski Memorial (Poland)… Fifth in 2012 Olympic Qualification Tournament… Fifth in 2012 European Championships… Second in 2010 Junior World Championships… Second in 2010 European Junior Championships… Born: June 25, 1991… Age: 24
86 kg/189 lbs. – Selim Yasar
Second in 2015 World Championships… Third in 2014 World Championships… 2009 Junior World champion…. Eighth in 2016 European Championships… Second in 2016 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… 2015 Ziolkowski Memorial champion (Poland)… Fifth in 2013 Ali Aliev Tournament (Russia)… Second in 2012 New York AC International… Third in 2012 Intercontinental Cup (Russia)… Fifth in 2012 Stepan Sargsyan International (Armenia)…. Third in 2011 Kartozia and Balavadze Prize (Georgia)…Third in 2010 New York AC International… 2009 and 2010 European Junior champion…. Born: January 20, 1990… Age: 26
97 kg/213 lbs. – to be determined
125 kg/275 lbs. –Yunus Emre Dede
Third in 2015 Junior World Championships… Third in 2016 European U23 Championships… Eighth in 2015 UWW Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Fifth in 2015 Alrosa Cup (Russia)… Second in 2015 European Junior Championships… Fourth in 2014 Moscow Lights (Russia)… Fifth in 2014 Junior World Championships… Second in 2014 European Junior Championships… Third in 2014 Yasar Dogu International (Turkey)… Competed in 2013 Junior World Championships… Third in 2012 Cadet World Championships… 2012 European Cadet champion… Born: October 2, 1995… Age: 21
