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Two-time Olympic Champion adds fifth
World Championship gold medal to his prestigious
career
Mijaín once again demonstrated his
world class status. Photo: Ricardo López Hevia.
Cuban Mijaín López triumphed once again after
winning gold in the 130 kilogram final of the World
Wrestling Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
López, two-time Olympic champion, defeated Turkish
Riza Kayaalp 2-0 in the Greco-Roman style fight for
the gold medal, securing his fifth World
Championship title, having won in Budapest 2005,
Baku 2007, Herning 2009, and Moscow 2010.
The final was more like a rematch, given that
Kayaalp defeated López three years ago in the 2011
World Championship held in Istanbul.
In his first fight of the tournament, López, from
Pinar del Río beat Murodjon Tuychiev from Tajikistan
10-2, and later triumphed 8-0 over Eduard Popp, from
Germany.
In the quarter-finals he defeated Iranian, Behram
Mehdizadeh 6-0, before a difficult and close fought
match against Bilial Makhov, finally defeating the
Russian 1-0.
In addition to Lopez’s gold, Cuba also won one
silver and two bronze medals in the men’s Freestyle
category.
Reineris Salas (86 kg), secured second place once
again, after winning silver in Budapest 2013, losing
on this occasion to Abdulrashid Sadulaev, from
Russia; while Yowly Bonne (61 kg) and Liván López
(74 kg) won bronze medals in their respective
divisions.
With seven men, and against opponents with complete
squads, Cuba (1-1-2) placed eighth on the country
medal chart, led by Russia (6-4-5); Japan (4-2-0);
Armenia (2-0-0); Iran (1-4-4); Turkey (1-3-5);
Azerbaijan; (1-3-3); and the United States (1-1-4).
(Granma International news staff)
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