Erivan Barut (TUR) wins gold in under 60 kg class
(all photos courtesy Samsun 2022 FISU University World Cup Combat Sports Organizing Committee)The first ever FISU University World Cup Combat Sports has concluded in Samsun, Türkiye. 800 athletes and 300 officials representing over 300 universities from 57 countries participated and took part in competition in six sports. This ten day event was the first of its kind for FISU by combining multiple sports into one FISU World Cup.

The final day featured final bouts in boxing, karate, as well as men’s Greco-Roman wrestling. In boxing, it was a dominant day for host Türkiye. Under 54 kg World Champion Hatice Akbaş claimed gold, as did fellow world championship team member Büşra Işıldar in the under 75 kg class. Türkiye added to its dominance in women’s boxing with the under 50 kg category won by Erivan Barut and the under 60 kg class claimed by Gizem Ozer. On the men’s side, Berat Acar of Samsun’s Ondokuz Mayıs University took gold for his school and Türkiye in the men’s over 92 kg class.

Olha Shalimova, Ukraine (in blue) Despite falling to Barut in the women’s under 50 kg class, Olha Shalimova of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya National University was very happy with her experience. “I like everything. I like the boxing hall, the warm people. They are so kind and always smiling so I have just positive emotions from here. I’m very happy to be here and represent Zaporizhzhya University,” she said.

In men’s Greco-Roman wresting, an Olympic silver medalist from Tokyo 2020, Ukraine’s Parviz Nasibov, won gold claiming the under 72 kg class by knocking off Otar Abuladze of Georgia 8-5. U23 European Champion in the under 87 kg class, Istvan Takacs of Hungary, won gold in Samsun defeating Turkish wrestler Emincan Enez.Turkmenistan’s Orazov and Ukraine’s Chmyr in wrestling competition.

Among many karate finals on the last day of competition, the women’s individual Kata competition was dominated by Türkiye and Canada. The final match featured two Turks with Damla Pelit, of Lokman Hekim University, defeated Keydan Nur Colak of Trabzon University. The bronze medal match saw Melissa Baillargeon of Canada’s Université Laval beat fellow Canadian Claudia Laos Loo of Simon Fraser University, though both athletes leave Samsun with bronze medals.

Athletes are departing Samsun having competed at an international level and having had great experiences. Indonesian wushu competitor Edgar Xavier Marvelo, who attends Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya University and claimed gold in the Chanquan event, spoke about the region and how he’s enjoyed being in Samsun. The three-time world championship gold medalist said, “This is my first time going to Turkey and to Samsun and I feel like I really like the weather right now and I really like how there are lots of trees and nature.”

Daniella Ramirez (in yellow) of Colombia receiving bronze medalBronze medalist in women’s under 51 kg muaythai, Daniela Ramirez of Colombia and Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, also spoke very highly of her experience at the FISU World Cup Combat Sports. “I love Samsun, it’s been really great, and I like to share experiences with other fighters and other people from different countries. I am so happy with the fight, I gave it all and I belong here,” she said.

After ten days of intense and exciting competition, host Türkiye comes away leading all nations with 134 total medals, including 36 gold, with Ukraine having won 66 medals and 18 gold. Turkmen State Institute of Physical Education and Sports in Turkmenistan led all universities with 15 medals while Iran’s University of Tehran won the most gold medals amongst universities with 7. Student-athletes will now depart Samsun and Türkiye for home and a return to their studies after a very successful inaugural FISU University World Cup Combat Sports.

Written by Doug McLean