Pontevedra, September 08, 2024, The Europe Today: Turkmen wrestler Alp Arslan Begendzhov has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the inaugural champion of the U-20 World Youth Championship in freestyle wrestling. This remarkable accomplishment was realized at the prestigious tournament held in Pontevedra, Spain, as reported by Turkmenportal.
Alp Arslan Begendzhov has demonstrated exceptional skill and consistent performance throughout the season. His impressive track record includes a bronze medal at the International Junior Tournament of Champions in Antalya, Turkey, earlier in the year, followed by another bronze at the Asian Championship (U-23) in Amman, Jordan. In July, he further distinguished himself by securing gold at the Asian Championship for athletes under 20 in Si Racha, Thailand.
In the 79 kg weight category, where 28 athletes competed for the champion title, Begendzhov showcased dominant performances at every stage of the tournament. His path to victory included decisive wins with scores of 10:0 against Mahdi Yousefihajivar (Iran) in the qualification round, Oleksandr Mamrosh (Ukraine) in the 1/8 finals, Dmitry Lukashchuk (Belarus) in the quarterfinals, and Amit Amit (India) in the semifinals. In the final match, he defeated American Zachary D Ryder with a score of 5:0 to secure the gold medal.
The bronze medals in the 79 kg weight category were awarded to Mahdi Yousefihajivar and Brazilian wrestler Leandro Araujo.
This historic victory not only underscores Alp Arslan Begendzhov’s remarkable talent and dedication but also marks a significant achievement for Turkmenistan in the world of freestyle wrestling.
