Georgia’s Vladimir Khinchegashvili went one better than his silver medal at London 2012 by beating Japan’s Rei Higuchi in the final of the men’s 57 kilograms freestyle wrestling competition ©UWW

Georgia’s Vladimir Khinchegashvili went one better than his silver medal at London 2012 by beating Japan’s Rei Higuchi in the final of the men’s 57 kilograms freestyle wrestling competition at Carioca Arena 2 in Rio de Janeiro.

The world champion, runner-up in the 55kg category four years ago, held on for a 4-3 criteria decision win and secured his country's second gold medal of the Games after Lasha Talakhadze's win in the men's over 105kg weightlifting event. 

Higuchi led 3-0 in the second period but Khinchegashvili battled back with a chest lock throw for two points and then gained another point off the shot clock to make the score 3-3 and give him the advantage on criteria.

The Japanese corner claimed that Khinchegashvili was hanging on to Higuchi’s arm and preventing him from wrestling but the challenge was rejected and gave the Georgian a narrow win.

"This is the best feeling ever," Khinchegashvili said.

"My dream just came true."

In the bronze medal matches, 61kg world champion Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan overcame Bulgaria’s Vladimir Vladimirov Dubov by fall and Iran’s Hassan Sabzali Rahimi defeated Cuba’s Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez by the same method.

Vladimir Khinchegashvili became Georgia's second Olympic gold medallist of Rio 2016 and improved upon his own silver medal performance at London 2012 ©Getty Images
Vladimir Khinchegashvili became Georgia's second Olympic gold medallist of Rio 2016 and improved upon his own silver medal performance at London 2012 ©Getty Images

Rahimi’s compatriot Hassan Aliazam Yazdanicharati marked his Olympic debut with success in the men’s 74kg freestyle category. 

His final was marred, however, as Russian opponent Aniuar Geduev was forced to take repeated medical breaks while doctors tried to control the bleeding from a cut over his eye.

Geduev managed to build up a 6-0 lead in the first period in spite of the breaks, but in the second period, former junior world champion Yazdanicharati came through with three takedowns with the final one coming with just eight seconds on the clock.

"I already knew that with the injury he couldn't pull off the [same moves]," said Yazdanicharati.

"So I had a plan.

"I wanted to make him tired and suck his energy out to be able to win it in the last minute."

Iran's Hassan Aliazam Yazdanicharati marked his Olympic debut by winning the men's 74kg freestyle gold medal in a final against Russia's Aniuar Geduev ©Getty Images
Iran's Hassan Aliazam Yazdanicharati marked his Olympic debut by winning the men's 74kg freestyle gold medal in a final against Russia's Aniuar Geduev ©Getty Images

In order to reach the final, Geduev recorded impressive wins over world and London 2012 champion Jordan Burroughs of the United States and two-time world bronze medallist Jabrayil Hasanov of Azerbaijan.

Hasanov went on to claim a bronze medal after registering a 9-7 win over Uzbekistan’s Bekzod Abdurakhmanov.

He was joined on the third step of the podium by European champion Soner Demirtas of Turkey, who defeated Kazakhstan’s Galymzhan Usserbayev 6-0 in the other bronze medal match.  

Rio 2016 wrestling action is due to continue tomorrow with the men’s 86kg and 125kg freestyle competitions.