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Wednesday, June 29, 2005

CANOE -- Turkish oil wrestling champ wants sport brought to other countries

"Turkish oil wrestling champ wants sport brought to other countries
By BENJAMIN HARVEY

EDIRNE, Turkey (AP) - To an Ottoman band's relentless drum pounding and whirring of clarinets, Saban Yilmaz entered the wrestling stadium and poured two full pitchers of extra virgin olive oil over his hulking torso.

After nearly an hour of slow, deliberate grappling and a few blunt slaps that sent oil and sweat spraying onto the uncut grass, Yilmaz tossed his opponent onto his back in an explosion of strength to win the 644th annual Kirkpinar oil wrestling championship - one of the world's oldest sporting events."

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