Burhan Akbudak of Türkiye sealed a gold at the World Wrestling Championships on Monday after beating Uzbekistan’s Jalgasbay Berdimuratov in the men’s Greco-Roman 82 kg category.
Akbudak upgraded last year’s silver medal to claim his first-ever gold in the tournament as he rallied to a 7-6 victory over 2019 bronze medalist Berdimuratov in Serbia’s capital Belgrade.
Berdimuratov, looking to become just the second-ever Greco champion from Uzbekistan, opened the match with a 4-point arm throw.
Akbudak came back with a pair of step-outs to cut the gap to 4-2, before, on a third attempt, Berdimuratov shrugged him by and scored a takedown for a 6-2 lead at the break.
In the second period, Akbudak got his chance when he received a passivity point and was put on top in par terre. From there, he ripped off consecutive gut wrenches to take the lead for the first time with 1:16 left, and he held on for the gold.
Tamas Levai of Hungary and Yaroslav Filchakov of Ukraine both earned bronze medals.
This spring, Akbudak, 27, earned a bronze medal in the Greco-Roman 82 kg at the European Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
