Imam Adzhiev got the wrestling powerhouse off to the best possible start, claiming the 61 kilograms title with a technical fall success in the final against home hope Dimitar Lyubomirov Ivanov.

Azerbaijan, in superb form yesterday as their wrestlers picked up two gold medals, earned the first bronze thanks to Zalimkhan Valiyev, who beat Ukraine's Vadym Dukhno.

The other medal in the category went to Georgia’s Shota Phartenadze after he thrashed Mihai Esanu of Moldova.

The gold medal bout in the 70kg weight class proved to be an intriguing affair and provided Russia’s second crown as Rasul Arsanaliev edged Azerbaijan's Gadzhimurad Omarov 11-9 in a high-scoring contest.

Muhammet Akdeniz of Turkey and Georgia's Davit Buziashvili sealed the bronze medals on offer with victories over Frenchman Johnny Just Bur and Vasyl Mykhailov of the Ukraine respectively.

Russian 86kg competitor Abdulrashid Sadulaev completed the treble for his country with a comfortable technical fall triumph in his clash for gold against Georgia's Irakli Mtsituri.

It was a bruising contest between the two wrestlers, despite the convincing 15-4 scoreline, but Sadulaev proved too strong in the end to wrap up his country’s third gold of the day.

Kadir Yazici added to the Turkish medal haul at the event as he clinched the first bronze by defeating Slovakia’s Michael Bodnar.

The other bronze medal was earned by Belarus’ Aliaksandr Hushtyn, who beat Stefan Reichmuth of Switzerland.

The Russian monopoly of the men’s freestyle came to an end in the 125kg division as Georgian Geno Petriashvili took the final gold medal on offer with a 9-4 victory in his encounter against Danylo Kartavyi of the Ukraine.

Russia could not be kept away from the podium, however, as Vitalii Goloev beat Bulgaria’s Mariyan Atanasov Todorov in the bronze medal bout.

Yunus Emre Dede of Turkey also ended the Championships in Ruse on a positive note, beating Finland’s Jere Tapani Heino to the other available bronze.