Stopped handshake after defeat and threw punches
Local police say "This is a violent incident" and launch investigation
At a wrestling tournament in the United States, a teenage athlete who lost the match punched his opponent in the face. The police are investigating the incident as an act of violence.
On the 18th (local time), local media including TMZ Sports reported that a youth wrestling tournament called "Beat the Street" was held on the 8th at a high school in Oak Park, Illinois.
The tournament, featuring competitors aged 8 to 18, included a freestyle 125-128 pound (56.7-58.0 kg) third-place match where Cooper Coder from SPAR Academy defeated Hafid Alicia from Main West High School with a score of 14 to 2.
After Coder's victory concluded the match, the referee called both wrestlers to the center of the mat. Coder extended his hand to Alicia for a handshake. At that moment, Alicia, who had lost the match, suddenly threw a punch during the handshake and struck Coder in the face.
Harper Alicia (in blue on the right) from Main West High School was involved in an assault incident after losing a game and shaking hands with the opponent. [Photo by Twitter]
Coder, hit by a strong punch, collapsed immediately, and the referee restrained Alicia and escorted her out of the arena. Coder's mother shouted at the offending athlete and then checked on her son's condition. Coder complained of pain in the area where he was hit and was unable to stand for some time.
Coder suffered a broken nasal bone but is currently reported to have recovered from the injury.
Justin Pierce, founder of SPAR Academy, said, "The injured athlete has already returned to training," adding, "Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport. SPAR Wrestling will never tolerate it."
The Oak Park police are investigating the assault, and the parents of both minors are cooperating. The video of the assault has also been shared and spread on social networking services (SNS).
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