The competition, which features cadet and junior wrestlers in both Greco-Roman and freestyle disciplines, attracted a healthy crowd who were particularly vociferous when Azerbaijani athletes were on the mat.

It was the turn of the cadet Greco-Roman athletes today and they exhibited a superb display of wrestling in the evening, with the Iranians taking home an impressive haul of gold medals.

Mokhtari Mohamdreza got the ball rolling for his nation with a classy win over Xancavad Macidzada in the 54 kilogrammes division to silence the raucous home support inside the arena.

That seemed to give the Iranian team some impetus and in the next bout, they managed to secure another win against an Azerbaijani wrestler as Kabiri Reza beat Davud Alimuradov.

Iran then ensured an emphatic finish to their day’s work when Yousefi Said and Mirzadeh Amin proved too strong for the Azerbaijani duo of Ughur Hajili and Jamal Feyziev in the 85 kilogram and 100kg categories respectively.

The hosts, who featured in the final of every weight category bar one, did manage to begin the event in blistering style with a near podium sweep in the 42kg competition as Elshad Mammadov ousted compatriot Asgar Alizada in the gold medal contest, while Mirsirac Hasani claimed a confident victory in his bronze medal match with Georgia's Irakli Nakashia.

Only Dadmarz Poya of Iran’s win over Zulfigar Aliyev prevented total domination from Azerbaijan but the result ensured the home  size crowd inside the arena had something to cheer early on.

However, their success did not last long as Georgia’s Giorgi Mefishvili got the better of home favourite Zaur Nuriyev in what proved to be a controversial 46kg gold medal contest.

With the tense bout locked at eight points apiece, Nuriyev thought he had stolen a late victory but an appeal from the Georgian youngster saw a dramatic outcome as he was given the contested point which saw him clinch gold.

“Each year we take part in these kinds of international competitions,” Mefishvili said.

“Unfortunately last year we didn't win any medals but now we got the gold medal and that is big progress for us."

Davit Bukaradze built on his teammate’s earlier triumph by taking gold in the 63kg category thanks to a 5-3 win against Azerbaijani Ramin Safarov in a closely-fought bout that went the distance.

The home crowd did see their young stars secure another two titles as Ulvu Ginzade gave Azerbaijan a rare win over their Georgian counterparts in the 69kg category, and an all-Azerbaijani 76kg gold medal contest saw Nazarsah Fatullayev get the better of Cavansir Qasimov.

Kazakhstan also managed to top the podium on a fascinating day of action and an even bigger attendance is expected tomorrow.

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