📩 25/09/2023 15:34
Denizli Oil Wrestling, organized in cooperation with Denizli Metropolitan Municipality and Pamukkale Municipality, witnessed breathtaking struggles. In the final of the giant organization where intense competitions took place, the last Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling champion Yusuf Can Zeybek defeated Kırkpınar's legendary name Ali Gürbüz and won the golden belt.
GOLDEN BELT FOUND ITS OWNER
The golden belt found its owner at the "Denizli Oil Wrestling", which was organized in cooperation with Denizli Metropolitan Municipality and Pamukkale Municipality and witnessed breathtaking struggles throughout the day. Yusuf Can Zeybek, Ali Gürbüz, İsmail Balaban, Recep Kara, Fatih Atlı, Mehmet Yeşil Yeşil, Osman Aynur and Mustafa, among the wrestlers who won the gold belt in Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, participated in Denizli Oil Wrestling, which started early in the morning at the Metropolitan Municipality Traditional Turkish Sports Games Complex. Besides Taş, 500 wrestlers competed fiercely. Denizli Governor Ömer Faruk Coşkun, AK Party Denizli Deputy Cahit Özkan, Şahin Tin and Nilgün Ök, Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Osman Zolan, Pamukkale University Rector Prof. attended the day-long event. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan, AK Party Denizli Provincial Chairman Yücel Güngör, Pamukkale Mayor Avni Örki, district mayors, political party representatives and tens of thousands of citizens attended. While the leader of Denizli Oil Wrestling, which attracted great interest from the people of Denizli, was businessman Hayati Işık, the competitions held in 14 sizes witnessed breathtaking struggles.
Wrestling fans had the opportunity to watch unforgettable matches
While the fierce struggle of the wrestlers who worked hard to get the golden belt in the ancestral sport oil wrestling competitions, which lasted until 21.30, was watched with interest by the citizens, the breath was held in the struggle for the title of chief wrestler. Ali Gürbüz, who beat Seçkin Duman in the semi-finals, became the first person to reach the finals, while Yusuf Can Zeybek beat İsmail Balaban and made his name in the finals. While the tough fight lasted 21 minutes, the last Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling champion Yusuf Can Zeybek, who defeated his opponent Kırkpınar's legendary name Ali Gürbüz, became the Denizli Oil Wrestling champion and was entitled to receive the golden belt. In Denizli Oil Wrestling, where Ali Gürbüz came second, İsmail Balaban and Seçkin Duman shared the third place. Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Osman Zolan, Pamukkale Mayor Avni Örki and Denizli Oil Wrestling Master Hayati Işık gave the medals and cups to the top wrestlers of Denizli Oil Wrestling. Additionally, plaques were presented to the individuals and institutions that contributed to the event.
“We protect the values that make us who we are”
Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Osman Zolan stated that they set out to protect and keep alive the ancestral sport of oil wrestling and reminded that this sport has deep roots in Denizli and our country. Reminding that these wrestling events were held even at weddings in the past, Mayor Zolan said, “We have very valuable historical athletes in this field, trained by Denizli. We were very happy to do oil wrestling in the Traditional Turkish Sports Games Complex that we brought to Denizli. Because we protect the values that make us who we are, in terms of preserving the legacy of our ancestors and passing it on to our young people. Our desire and wish is to enable these values that we inherited from our ancestors to live forever. "I congratulate all our wrestlers who sweated in the Denizli private square and wish them continued success," he said.
“We are happy and proud”
Pamukkale Mayor Avni Örki said that they were very happy and proud to organize such an important organization. Mayor Örki stated that they will strive to ensure that Denizli Oil Wrestling, which they organized for the third time this year, continues for many years and said, “In this geography where we live, oil wrestling is ingrained in our genes. We are joyful, we are happy. We have achieved a Denizli full of sports. We have brought role models to our young people who are disciplined, love to work, and strive for their country. As Pamukkale Municipality, we have nearly 100 oil wrestlers and at least 25 of them have made their mark in Turkey. "Hopefully, we will be much more successful in the coming years and we will witness a chief wrestler from Denizli winning Kırkpınar again," he said.