Turkish wrestlers dominate Kocaeli international wrestling tournament

The Hasan Gemici‑Gazanfer Bilge International Wrestling Tournament was held in Kocaeli, Turkey, from 31 July to 2 August at the Şehit Polis Recep Topaloğlu Sports Hall. The event featured 24 countries and 433 athletes competing in 20 weight categories across freestyle and Greco‑Roman styles. Turkish wrestlers topped the medal table with 27 medals – six gold, three silver and eighteen bronze – securing first place. Iran finished second with 12 medals, while Azerbaijan and Russia each earned nine and Uzbekistan five. The tournament was organized by the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, the Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate and the Turkish Wrestling Federation, with federation president Taha Akgül and Olympic champion Rıza Kayaalp attending. Notable Turkish medalists included Kazım Tikence (60 kg Greco‑Roman), Kerem Kamal (63 kg Greco‑Roman), İbrahim Özdemir (72 kg Greco‑Roman), Yüksel Sarıçiçek (82 kg Greco‑Roman), Fatin Altunbaş (92 kg freestyle) and Alperen Tokgöz (97 kg freestyle). President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan previously praised Kocaeli as a "Youth Capital" for hosting such international sport events.