Russia's Aleksei Mishin secured his place at Rio 2016 after several impressive wins ©UWW

Athens 2004 Olympic champion Aleksei Mishin booked his place at Rio 2016 after triumphing in the men’s 85 kilogram event at the European wrestling qualifier in Zrenjanin today.

The 37-year-old claimed three straight victories to reach the semi-final stage of the competition in Serbia to close on securing Russia’s sixth Greco-Roman berth at the Olympic Games.

He ensured that his nation would be represented by a full contingent at the Games in the discipline, as he defeated Germany’s Denis Kudla 3-0 in their semi-final clash.

Mishin was able to claim the gold by winning the final 3-0 against Bulgaria’s Nikolay Bayryakov, who had earned a victory by fall in his semi-final tie against the Czech Republic’s Artur Omarov to seal a Rio 2016 spot.

The hosts celebrated success in the 75kg event as Viktor Nemes beat Moldova’s Igor Besleaga 3-0 in the semi-final stage.

He was then awarded the gold medal due to fellow Rio 2016 qualifier Zurab Datunashvili of Georgia, the newly crowned European champion in the discipline, withdrawing from the final due to injury.

Datunashvili’s team-mate Jakob Makarashvili also secured Olympic qualification, as he overcame Spain’s Taimuraz Friev Naskidaeva 12-8 in the 74kg men’s freestyle semi-final.

However he fell to a technical fall defeat to Azerbaijan’s Jabrayil Hasanov in the gold medal contest.

Serbia's Viktor Nemes earned Olympic qualification in front of a home crowd
Serbia's Viktor Nemes earned Olympic qualification in front of a home crowd ©Getty Images

Hungary’s Istvan Vereb defeated Poland’s Radoslaw Marcinkiewicz 8-3 in the men’s 86kg competition to secure his place at the Games, with Belarus’ Amarhajy Mahamedau overcoming Ukraine’s Ibragim Aldatov with a technique of higher value to earn the second spot.

The Belarussian pulled out of the final due to injury, with Vereb claiming the overall title.

Bulgaria’s Mimi Hristova and Ukraine’s Oksana Herhel earned victories over Germany’s Luisa Niemesch and Moldova’s Mariana Esanu respectively in the women’s 58kg freestyle event to earn Rio 2016 spots.

Hristova repeated the feat in the gold medal clash against Herhel.

The final gold medal of the day was claimed by Belarus’ Maryia Mamashuk, as she defeated Russia’s Anastasia Bratchikova 4-2 in the women’s 63kg division.

She had beaten Hungary’s Marianna Sastin 4-2 in the semi-final stage of the competition, while Bratchikova had overcome Azerbaijan’s Irina Netreba 7-2 in her Rio 2016 decider.

Competition is due to draw to a close tomorrow in Zrenjanin.