Uzair Labazanov comfortably beat Bulgaria’s Boris Kandov in the combat men’s 62 kilogram division final, as Moldova’s Timur Andres and Ukraine’s Bohdan Kondratovych claimed the bronze medals.

Then Murad Kerimov overcame Ukraine’s Maksym Ryndovskyi in the combat men’s 82kg, with Bulgaria’s Rumen Dimitrov and Belarus’ Siarhei Filomenka sharing the third step of the podium.

Kirill Sidelnikov completed another hat-trick of gold medals for Russia in the combat men’s over 100kg, brushing aside Bulgaria’s Martin Marinkov, as home favourite Josip Matkovic won the sole bronze medal in the three-competitor category.

Despite missing a hit on the leg at the start of the final, costing him two points, Sidelnikov went on to win the fight through a series of throws and a hold.

"I needed this jolt in the form of a missed hit; it spurred me further and motivated [me]," he said.

"I dedicate this victory to my country, to all the living and to the memory of our ancestors."

Level on two gold medals each and just behind the top performing nation were Belarus and Georgia, who denied Russia a further three gold medals between them.

Belarus’ Tatsiana Matsko beat Russia’s Uliana Bessonova in the women’s 64kg, which saw Bulgaria’s Vaniya Ivanova and Ukraine’s Olena Sayko to take the bronze medals.

Compatriot Stsiapan Papou got the better of Ukraine’s Artur Sarkisian in the men’s 74kg, where the bronze medals went to Russia’s Ali Kurzhev and Georgia’s Kakha Mamulashvili.

Georgia’s Davit Loriashvili triumphed over Russia’s Sergey Samoylovich in the men’s 100kg, with the pair joined on the podium by bronze medallists Yaroslav Rytko of Ukraine and Viktors Resko of Latvia.

Fellow countryman Vakhtangi Chidrashvili outdid Russia’s Sayan Khertek in the men’s 57kg, as Bulgaria’s Borislav Yanakov and Armenia’s Maksim Manukyan each finished third.

There were also a gold medal for Ukraine’s Mariia Buiok in the women’s 52kg, finishing ahead of Bulgarian silver medallist Magdalena Varbanova and bronze medallists Anna Gorelikova of Russia and Maryna Zharskaya of Belarus.

Bulgaria came to the fore in the women’s 80kg as Mariya Oryashkova prevailed at the expense of Russia’s Daina Ambartcumova, with Ukraine’s Halyana Kovalska and Lithuania’s Gintare Klisyte in the bronze-medal positions.

Russia have six gold medals, six silvers and five bronzes after the second day of action, and are followed in the overall standings by Belarus with four golds, one silver and four bronzes, and Ukraine with three golds, four silvers and six bronzes. 

The action is due to conclude tomorrow as the women’s 56kg, 68kg and over 80kg categories take centre stage, alongside the men’s 62kg, 82kg and over 100kg, and the combat men’s 52kg, 68kg and 90kg.


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