RUSSIA STOPS IRAN, 17-12 IN OPENING SESSION OF GOODWILL GAMES WRESTLING 
 Russia won five of the eight matches to defeat Iran 17-12, in the opening bout 
 Iran opened with three straight victories, as Behnam Taiebi (54 kg), Mohammed Talaie (58 kg) and Medhi Kaveh (63 kg) claimed victories. KavehÕs victory was a major upset, a 5-2 victory over 1994 World Champion Magomed Azizov. 
 Russia rebounded with five straight victories to close out the match. 
 At 69 kg, Velhikan Alakhverdiev started the comeback with a 6-3 win over Mohsen Babaei. 1996 Olympic Champion Bouvaisa Saitiev kept up the momentum with an 8-0 win over Masoud Jamshidi at 76 kg. At 85 kg, 1996 Olympic champion Khadzimurad Magomedov followed with 4-3 overtime win over Abbas Majidi. 
 The key win came at 97 kg, where Saghuid Mourtasaliev upset 1996 Olympic silver medalist Abbas Jadidi of Iran in a 2-2 refereeÕs decision. Mourtasaliev was awarded the win because he had fewer passivity calls. 
 In the final bout, three-time World Cup champion Andrei Shumilin of Russia stopped 1996 Olympic champion Rasul Khadem of Iran, 3-1 in overtime at 7:53. Khadem won his Olympic title at 198 pounds, and was giving up close to 50 pounds to the larger Shumilin. 
 RUSSIA 17, IRAN 12 
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Behnam Taiebi, Iran, dec. Murad Ramazanov, Russia, 4-2 
 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Mohammed Talaie, Iran, dec. Gasson Dzamalov, Russia, 4-0 
 63 kg/138.75 lbs.  - Medhi Kaveh, Iran, dec. Magomed Azizov, Russia, 5-2 
 69 kg/152 lbs. - Velikhan Alakhverdiev, Russia, dec. Mohsen Babaei, Iran, 6-3 
 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Bouvaisa Saitiev, Russia, dec. Masoud Jamshidi, Iran, 8-0 
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Khadzimurad Magomedov, Russia, dec. Abbas Majidi, Iran, 4-0, 5:23 
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Saghuid Mourtasaliev, Russia, won by ref. dec. over Abbas Jadidi, Iran, 2-2, ot, 8:00 
 130 kg/286 lbs. - Andrei Shumilin, Russia, dec. Rasul Khadem, Iran, 3-1, ot, 7:53 
 HOST UNITED STATES DEFEATS TURKEY, 21-9, WITH SIX INDIVIDUAL VICTORIES   The United States won six of the eight bouts for an impressive 21-9 victory over Turkey in the first session of the 1998 Goodwill Games wrestling competition.   Sam Henson opened the action for the United States with a dominant 12-3 win over Melvana Kulac at 54 kg. Turkey followed with victories by Harun Dogan at 58 kg and Gursel Uzunca at 63 kg. Uzunca upset 1997 World silver medalist Cary Kolat in overtime, 3-2.   Lincoln McIlravy started the U.S. revival with a 4-1 win over Adem Kaya. Steve Marianetti followed with a solid 3-1 overtime win over Nuri Zengen at 76 kg.   1997 World Champion Les Gutches thrilled the crowd by scoring an electrifying 11-0 technical fall over Ali Ozen in 4:49 at 85 kg. With time running out, Gutches exploded for a takedown and turn for the technical fall.   The U.S. claimed the final two matches, with wins from Melvin Douglas at 97 kg and Kerry McCoy at 130 kg. 
 UNITED STATES 21, TURKEY 9 
 54 kg/119 lbs. - Sam Henson, Norman, Okla. dec. Melvana Kulac, Turkey, 12-3 
 58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Harun Dogan, Turkey, dec. Tony Purler, Norman, Okla., 9-2 
 63 kg/138.75 lbs.  - Gursel Uzunca, Turkey dec. Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa., 3-2, ot, 5:51 
 69 kg/152 lbs. -  Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, dec. Adem Kaya, Turkey, 4-1 
 76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Steve Marianetti, Urbana, Ill. dec. Nuri Zengin, Turkey, 3-1, ot, 7:26 
 85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore. won by tech. fall over Ali Ozen, Turkey, 11-0, 4:49 
 97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz. dec. Kasif Sakiroglu, 3-0, ot, 6:11 
 130 kg/286 lbs. - Kerry McCoy, State College, Pa. dec. Mehmet Aydin Polatci, Turkey, 3-0 
 OUTSTANDING ATTENDANCE AT FIRST SESSION    The announced attendance for the first session of the Goodwill Games wrestling competition was 4,540, which is near capacity for the Theater in Madison Square Garden. The attendance figures could be even higher for the second and third sessions of the competition. 
 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE GOODWILL GAMES WEB PAGE AT http://www.goodwillgames98.com