As the FILA World Cadet Championship kicks off in Zrenjanin, hopes are high for all those involved, on and off the mat. The teens battling it off in the center of the ring are looking to prove they can be the Olympic stars of the future, while wrestling is looking to keep that dream alive. One nation that had a point to prove were hosts Serbia, and they did it in style, picking up a bronze and silver medal and firing up the crowds in Zrenjanin. Boban Zivanovic proved his dominance in the 100kg category by claiming a silver for Serbia, making this a repeat of his performance in the European Championships earlier this year in Montenegro. Zivanovic had the throw of the tournament in the 1/4 finals, slamming his opponent down in under a minute and a half with a 5-point takedown. The Belgrade- born youth, who wrestles for RK Partizan, could barely utter a word after the final against Georgian wrestler Pataridze, such was his disappointment. “I can’t begin to explain how frustrating it is. This is the second time in a row the gold just barely slipped through my fingers. I had a fantastic run and a great competition, but competing in the final is a whole other experience. I beat Pataridze at the Euros, this time he was better. It just goes to show how equally balanced the category is,” added the 100kg runner up. Just minutes before Zivanovic’s silver medal performance, another promising Serbian talent, Miklos Horti, earned the nation its first cadet medal in 18 years. Horti triumphed in the battle for bronze in the 54kg category, beating Mikko Peltokangas from Finland after a fine tactical display. “This medal here in Zrenjanin is a dream come true. There is no better motive for improving myself further and making it to gold one day soon,” said a breathless Horti, with the help of his Hungarian translator. It’s interesting to note that the young Serbian wrestler doesn’t actually speak a word of Serbian. Like many athletes from Vojvodina, Serbia’s northernmost region, Horti’s name and roots are Hungarian. Another young talent just like him, who will be looking to prolong Serbia’s medal streak is Norbert Cikos. Cikos is gearing up to compete in the second day of competition in the 69kg category, and admits right off the bat that he isn’t all the comfortable speaking Serbian. “I’m from Subotica, close to the border with Hungary, and my parents are Hungarian. However, I am proud to be representing Serbia. I think this event can be a big thing for our country and for some of our best young wrestlers to make a name for themselves.” When asked earlier in the day, who in the Serbian team could go the furthest, the young wrestler was right on target. “We have a great team here in Zrenjanin, but Miklos Horti and Boban Zivanovic are in great form and are our biggest medal contenders. They can go all the way.” And they almost did. No doubt Cikos will draw inspiration from their opening day performances and do his best to take the streak into day two.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 23:28:46 +0000
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