Kotkov delighted the home crowd as he produced a stirring display to emerge victorious from a high-scoring contest at the USK CSKA Basketball Arena.

The two competitors were involved in a topsy-turvy contest before Kotkov, who had knocked out Olympic gold medallist Cheick Sallah Cissé of the Ivory Coast in the semi-finals, prevailed with a 35-26 triumph.

Cook, the number two seed, had edged 11-8 and then 15-12 in front but the Russian managed to take a 12-point lead before he held on for a momentous victory.

The bronze medals in the category were secured by Cissé and Hun Kim of South Korea.

In the women's under 49kg weight class, Thailand's Panipak Wongpattanakit stunned Olympic gold medalist So Hui-kim of South Korea to finish at the summit of the podium.

Wongpattanakit, an Olympic bronze medallist at Rio 2016, managed to move 8-4 in front in the third period and then her defence held firm as she sealed an 8-6 success.

Camila Rodriguez from Colombia and Serbia’s Tijana Bogdanovic shared the bronze medals.

Three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Kim Tae-hun of South Korea took home the men's under 58kg crown after opponent Ramnarong Sawekwiharee of Thailand withdrew before the final took place.

Mohammad Kazemi from Iran and Jesús Tortosa Cabrera from Spain were the recipients of the bronze medals.

All three winners will automatically qualify for the newly established World Taekwondo Grand Slam which due to place in Wuxi in China.

The event in the Russian capital - the first Grand Prix competition of the season - is due to conclude tomorrow.