Khushtov's throws give Russia 3rd Greco gold
Khushtov's throws give Russia 3rd Greco gold
BEIJING (AP) _ Aslanbek Khushtov won Russia's third Greco-Roman wrestling gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, turning big throws in each of the two periods into a decisive victory over Mirko Englich of Germany at 96 kilograms on Thursday. Up Englich went in the first period, lifted out of a gut wrench from which there was no escape from a 5-point, period-ending move.
Up Englich went in the second period as Khushtov got him from the bottom position, a 2-point move that sealed a 3-0 period win and yet another gold for Russia's wrestling machine. "It's the final, everything happens in a blink," Englich said.
"Khushtov is the best of the world." Even from an awkward position high above the mat, Englich could see that.
He was more pleased than most silver medalists with finishing second, saying, "It's great, just great." It was greater still for Khushtov, perhaps with the help of his lucky charm.
His daughter will soon be 10 months old, and Khushtov despite not getting as much sleep as before because of the new infant hasn't lost a match since her birth. In Beijing, he was perfect, winning his four matches by a combined 30-0 with one fall.
Or exactly the kind of score that a team that can throw it around is capable of producing. "We had all the necessary conditions for training and preparation," he said.
"So it was impossible not to win." Not for every Russian, even if the dominant country in the sport won three Greco gold medals, one more than it gathered in Athens.
The wrestler known as the machine, Aleksey Mishin at 84 kg, was upset and failed to repeat his 2004 Olympic gold medal. The 28-year-old Khushtov's throwing show eased some of the disappointment of that loss.
He joined Nazyr Mankiev at 55 kg and Islam-Beka Albiev at 60 kg as Russia's Greco gold medalists. The 96 kg bronzes were won by Adam Wheeler, the only one of the six Americans to win a Greco medal, and Asset Mambetov of Kazakhstan.
Wheeler defeated Han Tae-Young of South Korea 3-1, 4-1, keyed by a 2-point reversal in the second period. Wheeler's medal prevented the U.S. Greco team last year's world team champions from being shut out in the Olympics for the first time since 1988.
Wheeler, who spent five years in the Coast Guard, wasn't considered one of America's top medal hopes going into the games. "It was the best moment of my life, wrestling-wise," Wheeler said.
"I just defended that the way I have been practicing for the last 15 years. It worked out.
I honestly don't even remember what happened. It all happened that fast.
" Karam Gaber, who cruised through the 2004 Olympics with a series of one-sided decisions, was beaten by Elis Guri of Albania in the round of 16 at 96 kg. Gaber's scoring skills while on his feet have been greatly diminished by new rules that give greater emphasis to scoring from the par terre, or down, position.
BEIJING (AP) _ Aslanbek Khushtov won Russia's third Greco-Roman wrestling gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, turning big throws in each of the two periods into a decisive victory over Mirko Englich of Germany at 96 kilograms on Thursday. Up Englich went in the first period, lifted out of a gut wrench from which there was no escape from a 5-point, period-ending move.Up Englich went in the second period as Khushtov got him from the bottom position, a 2-point move that sealed a 3-0 period win and yet another gold for Russia's wrestling machine. "It's the final, everything happens in a blink," Englich said.
"Khushtov is the best of the world." Even from an awkward position high above the mat, Englich could see that.
He was more pleased than most silver medalists with finishing second, saying, "It's great, just great." It was greater still for Khushtov, perhaps with the help of his lucky charm.
His daughter will soon be 10 months old, and Khushtov despite not getting as much sleep as before because of the new infant hasn't lost a match since her birth. In Beijing, he was perfect, winning his four matches by a combined 30-0 with one fall.
Or exactly the kind of score that a team that can throw it around is capable of producing. "We had all the necessary conditions for training and preparation," he said.
"So it was impossible not to win." Not for every Russian, even if the dominant country in the sport won three Greco gold medals, one more than it gathered in Athens.
The wrestler known as the machine, Aleksey Mishin at 84 kg, was upset and failed to repeat his 2004 Olympic gold medal. The 28-year-old Khushtov's throwing show eased some of the disappointment of that loss.
He joined Nazyr Mankiev at 55 kg and Islam-Beka Albiev at 60 kg as Russia's Greco gold medalists. The 96 kg bronzes were won by Adam Wheeler, the only one of the six Americans to win a Greco medal, and Asset Mambetov of Kazakhstan.
Wheeler defeated Han Tae-Young of South Korea 3-1, 4-1, keyed by a 2-point reversal in the second period. Wheeler's medal prevented the U.S. Greco team last year's world team champions from being shut out in the Olympics for the first time since 1988.
Wheeler, who spent five years in the Coast Guard, wasn't considered one of America's top medal hopes going into the games. "It was the best moment of my life, wrestling-wise," Wheeler said.
"I just defended that the way I have been practicing for the last 15 years. It worked out.
I honestly don't even remember what happened. It all happened that fast.
" Karam Gaber, who cruised through the 2004 Olympics with a series of one-sided decisions, was beaten by Elis Guri of Albania in the round of 16 at 96 kg. Gaber's scoring skills while on his feet have been greatly diminished by new rules that give greater emphasis to scoring from the par terre, or down, position.
posted by fathima @ 6:55 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home