Azerbaijan earn five freestyle golds to conclude Baku 2015 wrestling test event

The final day of the Baku 2015 test event burst into life with Azerbaijan clinching gold, silver and bronze in the 55 kilogram division, with Iran earning the second bronze.

Mahir Amiraslanov ultimately topped the podium, after overcoming his compatriot Ruslan Qasimov in a closely fought final, which ended 7-5 in Amiraslanov’s favour.

The following 60kg weight division also saw an Azerbaijani wrestler take gold, with Vurgan Aliyev seeing of the challenge of Kazakhstan’s B Torebek 6-2.

The crowd responded to the positive start by the home wrestlers and their support appeared to have an effect on Murad Suleymanov, who produced a commanding performance, to take the men’s 74kg title over Turkey’s Muhammed Akdeniz, winning 12-2.

"My hardest match was in the final with the Turkish rival,” said Suleymanov, despite his comprehensive victory.

"I was nervous before and it was a hard match.

"I defeated him by attacking him below the waist.”

The result reflected Azerbaijan’s superiority throughout the day, while Akdeniz’s silver medal was one of three for Turkey, with their wrestlers falling at the final stage of the competition.

Mustafa Sessiz was one of the Turkish athletes to stand on the second step of the podium, having been denied gold due to a controversial decision by the officials, with Sessiz’s coach, in particular, taking exception of the officials’ verdict.

Sessiz had battled back into his 84kg contest with Azerbaijan’s Qadjimurad Maqomedsaidov and thought he had taken the lead approaching the final minute, however four points were awarded to the home fighter.

Despite fighting back once more to tie the bout at 11-11 at the close of the action, the title was ultimately awarded to Maqomedsaidov.

Somewhat fittingly on a day where Azerbaijan dominated, the final gold went to Said Qaimdov in the 120kg division, as he saw off the challenge of Russia’s Asadula Ibragimov, although Russia had earned success earlier when Zalimxan Magomedsultanov defeated Kazakhstan’s Borangaliov in the 50kg weight category.

Despite their run of silver medals, Turkey earned a solitary victory through Enes Uslu in the 66kg division, after he overcame Russia’s Taygib Gasanov, while Georgia earned the only other gold of the test event, with Givi Matcharashvili winning the 96kg division with a 11-1 victory over Turkey’s Aykuk Isik.