Election 2019
Turkey
Economy
Opinion
World
Arts & Life
Sports
Photo
Turkish wrestler clinches 6 title in row in 'oldest' oil wrestling tournament, breaking record
Turkish wrestler clinches 6 title in row in 'oldest' oil wrestling tournament, breaking record
Turkish athlete Orhan Okulu won Sept. 9 the title of the chief wrestler (Baspehlivan) at the 666th edition of the traditional Elmalı Oil Wrestling tournament in Antalya, Turkey, breaking a record. Click through for the story in photos...
Okulu set a record in what is dubbed the oldest oil wrestling event in Turkey by claiming the Baspehlivan title the sixth time in a row against his rival Ismail Balaban in the final.
The previous record holder was the legendary Turkish wrestler, Ahmet Taşcı, who won the title five times in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993.
Elmalı, located about 70 kilometers from the seaside town of Kaş, hosts the oil wrestling tournament every year for three days.
More than 1,600 wrestlers including 78 chief wrestlers participated in the festival.
The festival dates back to the Ottoman era and is one of the world's oldest sporting events.
Wrestlers wear leather pants, rub olive oil on their bodies, and tackle each other on grass fields.
Click through for more photos from the event...
ALL PHOTOS
Turkey, a scuba diving paradise
5 hidden exotic paradises of Turkey
Turkish-style Halloween: The night of Bocuk
11 prominent Turkish painters of 20th century
Trabzon locals in legal struggle to protect endemic flower
Labor Day marked across Turkey
Turkish firm creates new farm fish species
Live tulip carpet installed in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Square
Thousands gather for dawn service in Gallipoli to remember fallen Anzacs
