Oleksandr Kostyk took Ukrainian shooting gold ©Deaflympics

A Ukrainian shooter and two Russian cyclists each secured gold medals as competition began at the 23rd edition of the Summer Deaflympics in Turkish city Samsun today.

Oleksandr Kostyk of Ukraine triumphed in the 10 metres rifle shooting after his score of 200.90 points proved too strong.

Choi Changhoon of South Korea earned 199.5 points for second place.

Marek Bartosek of Czech Republic scored 180.2 points for the bronze medal. 

Russia claimed both male and female titles in respective 1,000m sprint cycling events.

Alisa Viktorovna Bondareva defeated Venezuela's Ludy Correa Nava in the women's final.

Russia narrowly missed out on a second medal as Ksenia Kalibina lost the bronze medal ride against Mao Anan of China.

Ilia Sergeyevich Gutenev beat Liang Qichao of China in the corresponding men's final.

Frenchman Steeve Touboul took the bronze medal after defeating another Chinese rider, Xu Chao.

More than 3,000 athletes from 97 countries are taking part at the premier event for deaf athletes in the Black Sea city.

They are competing in 20 sports - athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, road cycling, football, golf, handball, judo, karate, mountain bike, orienteering, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.