The penultimate day of action saw four gold medals on offer ©UWW/Facebook

Azerbaijan secured two gold medals on the penultimate day at the United World Wrestling (UWW) Under-23 European Championships as men’s freestyle action came to the fore at the Bulstrad Arena in Ruse.

The country, which has a rich tradition in the sport, had topped the podium just once over the two days of women’s freestyle action in the Bulgarian city.

Mirjalal Hasan-Zada got his country off to the best possible start today, though, earning a hard-fought 7-4 victory over Baris Kaya of Turkey in the final of the 57 kilogram division.

Bronze medals in the category went the way of Russia’s Ibragim Ilyasov and Moldovan Ivan Zamfirov after they overcame the challenges of Bulgaria's Mehmed Zeyti Feraim and Ukraine's Taras Markovych respectively.

Azerbaijan then picked up their second crown of the day thanks to Nurmagomed Gadzhiyev, who stormed to a rampant success in his 97kg gold medal bout with Poland’s Mateusz Filipczak.

Gadzhiyev dominated the contest from start to finish, sealing victory in style with an 11-0 technical fall win.

Russia's Zaynulla Kurbanov cruised to the first bronze medal, beating Ukraine’s Murazi Mchedlidze, and Georgian Givi Matcharashvili defeated Alexios Kaouslidis of Cyprus to take the other.

Azerbaijan secured double gold on a fruitful day of men's freestyle competition
Azerbaijan secured double gold on a fruitful day of men's freestyle competition ©Getty Images

Azerbaijan had earlier been denied another gold medal by Turkey’s Muhammet Nuri Kotanoglu, who got the better of Murad Suleymanov to claim the 74kg title.

Kotanoglu had the measure of his opponent for large periods of the bout and asserted his dominance before recording victory by fall.

Belarus’ Raman Chytadze edged a high-scoring match with Tariel Gaphrindashvili of Georgia to seal one of the two bronze on offer, the other being won by Ukraine’s Oleksiy Shcherbak as he defeated Finland's Henri Aleksi Selenius.

Russia, winner of two gold medals in the women’s freestyle events yesterday, had to settle for a solitary success today.

That came whe Murad Nukhkadiev beat Surkho Rashytkhanau of Belarus 7-2 in the final of the 74kg weight class.

Mustafa Zopali of Turkey accounted for Ukraine’s Gor Ogannesyan to earn the first bronze medal before Alexander Semisorow of Germany followed suit with victory over Romania’s Roman Duscov.

The event is due to conclude tomorrow with the final four men’s freestyle categories.