Lasha Gobadze won gold for Georgia on the opening day of the Championships ©Facebook/UWW

Georgia’s Lasha Gobadze began the United World Wrestling (UWW) Under-23 European Championships in style by securing gold in the men’s 80 kilogram Greco-Roman division with a convincing display at the Bulstrad Arena in Ruse.

The World Championship bronze medallist had his biggest scare of the competition in the semi-final stage, when Germany’s Hannes Wagner threatened to claim victory.

However Gobadze was able to earn a narrow 3-2 victory over his opponent to set up a gold medal clash with Turkey’s Burhan Akbudak, who had defeated Hungary’s Zoltan Keri.

The final proved to be a much more straightforward affair for Gobadze, with the Georgian claiming an 8-2 victory to secure the title.

Ukraine’s Yaroslav Filchakov earned a 4-0 victory over Wagner to earn the division’s first bronze, while Azerbaijan’s Eltun Vazirzade also came through the repecharge to finish on the podium, after beating Keri 4-3.

A second Georgian gold medal was not forthcoming after Kukuri Kirtskhalia was beaten in the final of the 98kg division, with Germany’s Muhammed Etka Sever claiming a victory by fall.

Russia’s Musa Evloev defeated Azerbaijan’s Orkhan Nuriyev 6-2 to secure the first bronze, while Hungary’s Zsolt Toeroek triumphed 4-1 in his encounter with Sweden’s Carl Anton Euren to claim the other minor medal.

Sergey Emelin made light work of the competition in the men’s 59kg event, with the Russian claiming a technical fall victory over Germany’s Etienne Kinsinger in the semi-final.

Germany’s Muhammed Etka Sever triumphed in the 98kg division
Germany’s Muhammed Etka Sever triumphed in the 98kg division ©Facebook/UWW

He was then able to replicate the feat in the gold medal contest against Azerbaijan’s Murad Mammadov to top the podium.

Kinsinger bounced back from his semi-final defeat to beat Georgia’s Khvicha Tchitava to bronze, having scored with a technique of higher value, after their contest had ended 3-3.

Israel’s Andrey Tsaryuk won an entertaining bout with Turkey’s Serif Yakup 11-8 to earn a podium spot.

Yakup’s compatriot Yunus Emre Basar earned the 71kg title after securing a technical fall win over Croatia’s Antonio Kamenjasevic.

Azerbaijan’s Ruhin Mikayilov and Georgia’s Ramaz Zoidze also earned technical fall victories in their respective contests against Hungary’s Pal Krisztian Kottes and Belarus’ Ruslan Ahamalyieu to win bronze medals.

The Championships will continue tomorrow with the 66, 75, 85 and 130kg Greco-Roman divisions.