RRI Sports Club
The World Wrestling Championships hosted by the Hungarian capital city Budapest drew to a close this past Sunday. Romanias delegation travelling to Budapest was made up of 15 wrestlers, including a string of European award-winning athletes and even a world vice-champion. Unfortunately, the Romanian delegation this year walked away with no medal. The Romanian Wrestling Federations stated aim was to win at least a medal, so that Romanian wrestlers at least match their performance at the 2017 edition of the World Championships, when Alina Vuc won silver in the 48-kilogram category.
Florin Orban, 31.10.2018, 12:22
Ukrainian-born Katya Zhydachevska in the 57-kilogram category, and George Bucur in the 65-kilogram category, freestyle, were the best-placed Romanians in Budapest, being ranked 5th in the final standings.
The world vice-champion competing in the 50-kilogram category, Romanias Alina Vuc sustained a round-of-16 defeat by Japanese challenger Yiu Susaki, who then made it to the finals. Vuc was allowed to participate in the repechage rounds, yet she was defeated by Indian contender Ritu Ritu.
The European champion in the 63-kilogram category, Mihai Mihut, sustained a round-of-16 defeat in the match again Hungarian opponent Istvan Vancsa. In the 57-kilogram category, the Ukrainian-born Romanian wrestler Andrey Dukov, two times medalist in the European championships, lost to Turkeys Suleyman Atli.
Russian wrestlers dominated the competition. They went home with three gold, one silver and two bronze medals, which is the best result for Russia in a world wrestling championship of the post-Soviet era. Japan was the runner-up in this years edition of the world championships, with a record of 5 gold medals. 4 of them were won in the womens competition, the same as in 2017 at the World Championships hosted by the French capital city Paris.
(translated by: Eugen Nasta)
