Russia topped the elite medal table at the 2019 IFMA World Championships ©IFMA

Russia topped the elite medal table at the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) World Championships with 20 medals, seven of them gold.

Hosts Thailand were second after all four fighters who reached the finals of their respective weight categories won their bouts at Huamark Sports Complex in Bangkok.

Suthat Bunchit earned home gold in the men's 81 kilograms, beating Belarus' Mikita Shostak 29-28, while in the men's 67kg, gold went to Thanet Nitutorn, who won 30-27 against Hungary's Spéth Norbert Attila.

Detrak Kulsena delighted the home fans by seeing off Peru's Nicolas Young 29-28 in the men's 54kg final while in the men's 48kg, gold went to Netipong Phrommakhot, who won 30-27 against Ovsep Aslanyan of Russia.

Elsewhere, in the men's over-91kg, Buğra Tugay Erdoğan overcame Amine Kebir of France 30-27, while Oleh Pryimachov of Ukraine won 30-27 against Jakub Klauda of the Czech Republic in the 91kg.

Russia's first gold of today went to Gadzhi Medzhidov in the men's 86kg after his final against Yauheni Vauchok was stopped early due to an injury to the Belarus fighter.

France's Jimmy Vienot beat Ukraine's Volodymyr Baryshev 30-27 in the men's 75kg, while in the 71kg, Ilia Balanov of Russia was too good for Ukraine's Oleh Huta, winning 29-28.

In the men's 63.5kg, Igor Liubchenko overcame Abdulmalik Mugidinov, the Ukrainian beating the Russian 29-28.


One of the seven golden Russians was Aik Begian, a 30-27 victor in the men's 60kg against Sercan Koc from Turkey.

In the men's 57kg, Almaz Sarsembekov sealed gold for Kazakhstan, winning 29-28 against Russian Aleksandr Abramov, but in the men's 51kg it was gold for Russia, Charak Murtuzaliev winning 30-27 against China's Chenghao Luo.

Russia also struck gold in the men's events.

Viktoriia Zhbankova had too much for Australia's Jessie-Lee Charles, the Russian triumphing 30-27 in the over-75kg final.

In the 75kg, Sarah Carter of Canada took a narrow 29-28 victory over Turkey's Rabia Akdeniz, while Anna Rantanen from Finland defeated Angela Mamic of Sweden 30-27 in the 71kg.

Bediha Tacyildiz of Turkey was a relatively comfortable 30-27 victor in the 67kg against Emma Abrahamsson of Sweden, and Zoe Putorak of Australia saw off Angela Whitley of the United States 30-27 in the 63.5kg.

The 60kg was won by Nili Block from Israel, triumphant 30-27 against Russia's Ekaterina Vinnikova.

Maria Klimova added to the Russian gold rush in the 57kg, beating Frenchwoman Anaelle Angerville 29-28, as her compatriot Almira Tinchurina saw off American Coral Carnicella 29-28 in the 54kg.

Bui Yen Ly won gold for Vietnam in the 51kg as she defeated Russia's Ekaterina Gurina 30-27, while in the 45kg Alena Liashkevich of Belarus had too much for Satu Mykkänen, seeing off the Finn by the same score.

Tessa Kakkonen of Finland won gold via walkover in the 48kg, having been scheduled to face Australia's Sze Sze Rowlinson.