The South Korean, who passed away on August 8 at the age of 88, was a grandmaster and key pioneer who had also served as the first WTF secretary general.

A minute's silence was observed in his memory in the Dinamo Krylatskoye Gymnasium by athletes, officials and spectators before finals began.

Once it did, Uzbekistan's world champion Dmitriy Shokin topped the bill with a bruising victory over Russia’s taller and whippier Vladislav Larin in the men's heavyweight.

Shokin opened the scoring with a punch before the hown-town favourite hit back with a snappy front leg.

Shokin's class told out in the end, however, as he battled to a 9-4 victory, dedicating his victory to Uzbekistan’s Independence Day, due to be celebrated on August 31.

There was some fittting South Korean success on day one following the respects paid to Lee as Oh Hye-ri won the women's under 67kg gold against Canadas Melssa Pagnotta in a high-scoring encounter. 

Scores were locked at 7-7 in the dying seconds before the Asian fighter struck with a perfect turning-kick.

Azerbaijan’s Farida Azizova and Egypt’s Seham Elsawalhy took the bronze medals.

Turkey’s world number 18 Nafia Kus beat China’s Donghua Li in the over 67kg event, drawing first blood with a front-leg turning kick to the body and then pushing ahead for a 12-5 victory.

The final line-up was something of a shock as Britain's world champon Bianka Walkden and world-ranked number two Gwladys Epangue of France had both been beaten by Kus and Li earlier in the competition, although the favoured duo did each battle back to win bronze medals.

Action is due to continue in the Russian capital tomorrow with the female under 49kg, male under 58kg and under 80kg categories before the two lightest divisions are held to conclude the three-day event on Sunday (August 16).

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