Hosts Azerbaijan enjoyed early success with their wrestlers earning gold medals in the first two weight divisions.

Giorgi Edisherashvili triumphed in the men’s under 57 kilogram freestyle event after his rival Nariman Israpilov of Russia was forced to withdraw through injury.

The bronze medals were claimed in the weight division by India’s Sandeep Tomar and Yuki Takahashi of Japan after they overcame the challenge of Kyrgyzstan’s Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov and Iran’s Reza Ahmadali Atrinagharchi respectively.

Akhmednabi Gvarzatilov swiftly added to the Azeri tally by cruising to a 9-0 victory over Cuba’s Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez in the 61kg event.

There was disappointment for the host nation’s Ali Rahimzade as he lost his bronze medal match 10-8 to Giorgi Revazishvili of Georgia, while the United States’ Alan Waters beat Husein Shakhbanau of Belarus to complete the podium.

Olympic bronze medallist Jabrayil Hasanov was the next Azeri athlete to top the podium, winning his 74kg final 3-1 against Avtandil Kentchadze of Georgia.

The bronze medals were earned by Azerbaijan’s Murad Suleymanov and Kazakhstan’s Zhiger Zakirov following their technical fall wins over Zaur Makiev of Russia and Uzbekistan’s Sorbon Abdulkhaev respectively.

It was Russia, though, who ultimately emerged as the most successful nation as wrestlers secured four gold medals.

Magomed Kurbanaliev successfully defended the 65kg title he earned last year by beating Cuba’s Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier 4-2 in their gold medal match.

Azerbaijan’s Joshgun Azimov edged out his team-mate Aghahuseyn Mustafayev to win their bronze medal contest 2-1, while Meisam Abolfazl Nasirim medalled for Iran, triumphing 9-2 against Meirzhan Ashirov.

The home crowd were silenced by Israil Kasumov when the Russian narrowly beat their 70kg wrestler Gitinomagomed Gadzhiyev 3-2.

Technical fall victories for Poland’s Magomedmurad Gadzhiev and Russia’s Ilias Bekbulatov saw the pair earn bronze medals at the expense of India’s Kumar Omprakash Vinod and Surkho Rashytkhanau of Belarus.

An all-Russian 86kg final between Anzor Urishev and Shamil Kudiiamagomedov saw the former emerge as a 2-0 victor.

Georgia’s Dato Marsagishvili earned a technical fall win over Turkey’s Ahmet Bilici to secure the first bronze medal before Iran’s Mojtaba Mohammadshafie Goleij prevailed by a 4-0 score against Alexander Taymurazovic Gostiev of Azerbaijan.

Abdusalam Gadisov, the 2014 world champion, secured Russia’s final gold of the day by winning 9-3 against Cuba’s Reineris Salas Perez in the 97kg competition.

The host nation’s medal tally grew further when Azerbaijan’s Aslanbek Alborov won his bronze medal match with the United States’ Dustin Kilgore by a technical fall verdict, while Iran’s Amir Mohsen Mohammadi won 8-5 against Kazakhstan’s Bakdaulet Almentay.

Geno Petriashvili proved to be the only athlete to break the Azeri and Russian dominance, with the Georgian triumphing in the 125kg event.

He was pronounced as the winner after Ukraine’s Alen Zasieiev was forced to withdraw through injury.

Russia’s Baldan Tsyzhipov won 2-1 against Turkey’s Yunus Emre Dede in the first bronze medal match, before Yadollah Mohammadkazem Mohebi of Iran overcame Diaaeldin Kamal Gouda Abdelmottaleb 4-0.

The prestigious three-day competition is due to continue with women’s events tomorrow with the top four wrestlers in the world rankings being joined by the four best wrestlers from the Americas, Asia and Europe.