Georgia’s Nino Odzelashvili was one of two female athletes to beat Russian opposition to a gold medal on the opening day of the 2017 European Sambo Championships at the Minsk Sports Palace ©FIAS

"Photo_Gallery"

Odzelashvili proved too strong for Irina Alekseeva in the women's 72 kilograms final ©FIAS
Odzelashvili proved too strong for Irina Alekseeva in the women's 72 kilograms final ©FIAS
Ukraine’s Anastasiya Shevchenko, second from left, topped the women's 60kg podium ahead of Russia's Arina Pchelintseva, left ©FIAS
Ukraine’s Anastasiya Shevchenko, second from left, topped the women's 60kg podium ahead of Russia's Arina Pchelintseva, left ©FIAS
Russia were still the dominant force though with Elena Bondareva, left, winning the first of their five gold medals at the expense of Belarus' Leila Abbasava ©FIAS
Russia were still the dominant force though with Elena Bondareva, left, winning the first of their five gold medals at the expense of Belarus' Leila Abbasava ©FIAS
Ovanes Abgaryan beat Belarus' Eduard Muravitski in the combat sambo 74kg final as Russia claimed a clean sweep of the three gold medals on offer today in the discipline ©FIAS
Ovanes Abgaryan beat Belarus' Eduard Muravitski in the combat sambo 74kg final as Russia claimed a clean sweep of the three gold medals on offer today in the discipline ©FIAS
Russia's Mikhail Mokhnatkin triumphed in the combat sambo 100kg final with Lithuania's Teodoras Aukstuolis having to settle for silver ©FIAS
Russia's Mikhail Mokhnatkin triumphed in the combat sambo 100kg final with Lithuania's Teodoras Aukstuolis having to settle for silver ©FIAS
Russia's other triumph came courtesy of Michail Polyanskov, who edged Georgia’s Paata Ghviniashvili in the men's 90kg final ©FIAS
Russia's other triumph came courtesy of Michail Polyanskov, who edged Georgia’s Paata Ghviniashvili in the men's 90kg final ©FIAS
Belarus' Aliaksandr Koksha delighted the home crowd with victory over Azerbaijan's Emil Hasanov in the men's 68kg final ©FIAS
Belarus' Aliaksandr Koksha delighted the home crowd with victory over Azerbaijan's Emil Hasanov in the men's 68kg final ©FIAS
Today's action was preceded by the Opening Ceremony, which included the traditional Parade of Nations ©FIAS
Today's action was preceded by the Opening Ceremony, which included the traditional Parade of Nations ©FIAS
International Sambo Federation President Vasily Shestakov was among the speakers during the Ceremony ©FIAS
International Sambo Federation President Vasily Shestakov was among the speakers during the Ceremony ©FIAS