Georgia's Vladimir Khinchegashvili claimed his third continental crown today at the European Wrestling Championships ©UWW

Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Vladimir Khinchegashvili of Georgia fought back from five points down against Russia’s Akhmed Chakaev to claim his third continental title today at the European Wrestling Championships in Serbian city Novi Sad.

Khinchegashvili, known for his unorthodox counter-style of wrestling, was on the receiving end of a five-point back-arching throw late in the first period of the men’s 61 kilograms freestyle final at the Spens Sport Hall.

The 26-year-old started his comeback in the second period with a series of low-level attacks before combining for a takedown and gut wrench to take an 8-7 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the bout.

He then added one more takedown and gave up another to world bronze medallist Chakaevon his way to securing a 10-9 win.

Victory means Khinchegashvili adds to the European 57kg title he won in 2014 and 61kg crown he secured last year. 

In the bronze medal matches at 61kg, Moldova’s Andrei Perpelita beat Ukraine’s Petr Bileichuk and Armenia’s Volodya Frangulyan defeated Turkey’s Abdi Zurnaci.

The men’s 74kg freestyle final saw Rio 2016 bronze medallist Soner Demirtas of Turkey score late to secure a 6-4 win over Azerbaijan’s Murad Suleymanov and retain his title. 

Armenia’s Grigor Grigoryan overcame Greece’s Kyrillos Binenmpaoum in one of the two battles for bronze, while Russia’s Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov got the better of France’s Zelimkhan Khadjiev in the other.

Turkey's Yasemin Adar defended her title in the women's 75kg category ©UWW
Turkey's Yasemin Adar defended her title in the women's 75kg category ©UWW

Earlier in the women’s events, Turkey’s Yasemin Adar defended her 75kg crown with a 10-0 technical fall over two-time European under-23 champion Zsanett Nemeth of Hungary.

Moldova’s Svetlana Saenko beat Germany’s Anna Schell to bronze and was joined on the third step of the podium by Estonia’s Epp Mae, who edged 2015 European Games champion Vasilisa Marzaliuk of Belarus for her first continental medal as a senior.

In the women’s 55kg category, Bulgaria’s Bilyana Dudova avenged a final defeat to Belarus’ Katsiaryna Hanchar at last month’s Dan Kolov and Nikola Petrov tournament with a 9-3 triumph.

Azerbaijan’s Alyona Kolesnik and France’s Mathilde Riviere won the bronze medals ahead of home favourite Merima Galetin and Russia’s Alexandra Andreeva respectively.

The event continues tomorrow.

Action is also due to begin tomorrow at the Pan-American Wrestling Championships in Salvador da Bahia in Brazil.

The three days of competition at the Pan-American Judo Center will incorporate Greco-Roman, men's freestyle and women's wrestling.

It will be followed by the Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships on Flamengo Beach on Monday (May 8).