Bulgaria’s Nazarian seals second world title
by JEROME PUGMIRE; Associated Press Writer
Associated Press Worldstream
October 5, 2003 Sunday 1:43 PM Eastern Time
CRETEIL, France — Two-time Olympic champion Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria
successfully defended his world crown Sunday, beating Cuba’s Roberto
Monzon 6-2 in the 60-kilogram (132-pound) final on the last day of
the Greco-Roman World Championships.
Nazarian, Olympic gold medalist in 1996 and 2000, raced into a
6-0 lead, but suffered against a late comeback from his speedy and
aggressive opponent.
Monzon, who collapsed to the mat clutching his back late in the bout,
claimed his first silver medal at the Worlds, adding to his collection
of three bronze medals.
Romania’s Eusebiu Diaconu took bronze after American Jim Gruenwald
withdrew from the bout due to a left-shoulder injury picked up in
his semifinal loss to Nazarian earlier Sunday.
The United States finished the competition without a medal, as did
host France.
Nazarian has won Olympic golds with different countries.
In 1996, he clinched the gold at Atlanta wearing the colors of his
native Armenia. Four years later – after having secured Bulgarian
citizenship in 1997 – he won gold at Sydney for his newly-adopted
country.
He had previously won the European Championship under Armenian colors
in 1994 and a silver medal at the Worlds in 1995.
Since representing Bulgaria, the 29-year-old has added four European
titles, in addition to back-to-back world crowns and Olympic gold
at Sydney.
In the 74-kilogram (163-pound) final, Germany’s Konstantin Schneider
met Russia’s Alexci Glushkov.
An impressive first period from Olympic bronze and World
silver-medalist Glushkov saw him establish a 3-0 interval lead.
The Muscovite had to mount a stern second-period defense to withstand
ferocious attacks from the German and secure his first world title
with a 3-0 win.
Glushkov, a short but immensely powerfully-built wrestler, shouted
“easy” to the crowd following his triumph. But his panting chest and
pained expression suggested it had been far from a routine victory.
Korea’s Kim Jin-Soo claimed bronze eight seconds into overtime with
a gritty 3-0 win over Kazhakstan’s Danil Khalimov.
Schneider, a losing quarterfinalist last year, had crushed Kim 7-2
in the semifinal, while Glushkov breezed to a 3-0 win over Khalimov.
In the 96-kilogram (211.5-pound) final, Egypt’s Karam Gaber dueled
with Sweden’s former European champion Martin Lidberg.
Gaber, silver medalist last year, has a star quality which was
reflected in the buzz around the 3,000-seater indoor arena when he
strode boldly to the mat.
The crowd, anticipating fireworks, gave the loudest roar of the
evening to the shaven-headed Egyptian.
But it was Lidberg, less muscular but quicker and technically superior,
who clinched his first world title with a 3-0 win – prompting delirious
scenes of jubilation.
“The first minute was the most important because he can be so
dangerous,” Lidberg told The Associated Press. “So I fought ugly and
hard to stop him having fun. I knew that would frustrate him and he
would lose his composure.”
Seconds after the final buzzer, Lidberg rolled around the mat,
thumping it with his fist, then let out an almighty roar.
He was thrown several times into the air by teammates and had barely
caught his breath before he was surrounded by equally eager Swedish
television crews.
“Sweden’s not a big country,” said team coach Leo Myllari. “But we
have a super wrestling team.”
Georgia’s Ramaz Nozadze beat Olympic silver medalist Davyd Saldadze
of Ukraine 6-0 to take bronze.
Gaber, whose giant frame is a twisting knot of rippling muscles,
had taken 43 seconds to win his semi against Nozadze by 10-0. The
bearded Lidberg beat Saldadze 3-1.
“I was not impressed by the 10-0 win,” Lidberg, 30, added. “I had
already worked out how to fight him tactically. I’ve been wrestling
for 23 years. I have more experience.”
In national team standings, Georgia placed first, Russia second and
Ukraine third. The United States team finished overall 12th, with
France 27th of 33 teams participating.
The United States team qualified just three of its seven wrestlers
automatically for next year’s Athens Olympics.
Wrestlers must place in the top 10 overall rankings to seal a ticket
outright for the 2004 games in Greece.
Those falling outside of the top 10 must qualify via another tournament
held in Kazhakstan in February.
Gruenwald, finishing overall fourth, booked his seat on the plane
for Athens, along with Brad Vering and defending Olympic champion
Rulon Gardner.
Vering finished overall fifth in the 84-kilogram (185-pound) class,
while Gardner took the 10th and final place. The big American from
Wyoming was somewhat fortuitous as he actually placed 11th overall
in the 120-kilogram (264.5-pound) division.
However, Greek wrestler Xenofon Koutsioubas’ fifth ranking was
irrelevant, seeing as he is qualified anyway as a representative of
the host country – meaning Gardner popped up from 11th to 10th.
Team captain Brandon Paulson did not qualify outright, finishing 21st
in the 55-kilogram (121-pound) category.
Others to miss out were Kevin Bracken, 17th in the 66-kilogram
(145.5-pound) category; Thomas Dantzler, 21st in the 74-kilo class
and Justin Ruiz, who placed 27th in the 96-kilos.
Since the World championships began in 1904, the United States has
won 21 medals – four gold, nine silver and eight bronze – placing it
level with Austria in 13th spot on the all-time list.
The former Soviet Union still has a huge lead overall with 211 medals –
132 gold, 49 silver and 30 bronze.
Bulgaria is second with 104 medals – 28 gold, 33 silver and 43
bronze. Hungary is third all-time with 79 – 24 gold, 33 silver and
22 bronze.
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