UPDATE – Turkish wrestler wins gold in European championships

ADDS SPORTS MINISTER’S MESSAGE</p> <p>By Fatih Erel</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey's Taha Akgul won a gold medal Wednesday in the 2019 European Wrestling Championships in Romania.</p> <p>In the men's 125-kg freestyle final, Akgul beat Georgian Geno Petriashvili to claim the gold in the capital, Bucharest.</p> <p>“I congratulate Taha Akgul, who has become the best in Europe for the 7th time and made us proud,” Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu, said on Twitter.</p> <p>Turkey's Fatih Erdin, Ibrahim Bolukbasi and Recep Topal are also set to compete for bronze medals.</p> <p>On Tuesday, Turkey's Muhammet Nuri Kotanoglu beat Ukraine’s Oleksii Domanytskyi to claim the bronze in the men's 79-kg freestyle final.</p> <p>With Akgul's victory, Turkish wrestlers have won a total of three gold medals at the international event, which ends Sunday.</p> <p>Turkey's Mustafa Kaya won a gold medal by beating Azerbaijan's Aghahuseyn Mustafayev 6-2 in the men's 70-kg freestyle final.</p> <p>Turkish wrestler Suleyman Atli also earned a gold medal by beating Russia's Muslim Sadulaev 8-3 in the men's 57-kg freestyle final.</p> <p>Turkey's Selahattin Kilicsallayan clinched a silver medal in the men’s 65-kg freestyle final after being bested by Azerbaijan's Haci Aliyev.</p> <p>*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur