Orhan Okulu Wins Presidential Oil Wrestling Cup After 57-Year Gap

Orhan Okulu defeated Mustafa Taş in the final to claim the chief wrestler title at the Presidential Oil Wrestling Cup held at Atatürk Airport Nation's Garden. The tournament marked the first time the cup was contested in 57 years. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan watched the roughly two-hour final alongside Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, and World Ethnosports Confederation President Bilal Erdoğan.

Minister Bak presented the championship belt and cup to Okulu, who was joined by Necip Al, promoted to chief wrestler after winning the Başaltı A category. Champions were also crowned across ten other weight classes, including Kerem Kahya in Başaltı B and Caner Arslan in Büyük Orta.

“Wrestlers fulfill an important mission in passing this sport, an emblem of our national identity, to future generations.”

President Erdoğan congratulated Okulu, runner-up Mustafa Taş, and all 92 participants in a social media post. He emphasized the wrestlers' mission to pass this ancestral sport to future generations and expressed hope for more international medals.

Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın celebrated local wrestler Seçkin Duman, who placed third representing Kağıtspor. Büyükakın also congratulated champion Orhan Okulu and all prize-winning wrestlers at the event.