Three weight classes were completed, with medals awarded at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, October 1.

Capturing gold medals were Nikolay Gergov of Bulgaria at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Varteres Samurgachev of Russia at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Alim Selimav of Belarus at 84 kg/185 lbs.

At 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 2005 European champion Nikolay Gergov of Bulgaria defeated Husamaddin Rajabov of Azerbaijan, 2-1, 3-0.

Gergov scored first in the match, when Rajabov could not score from the top position in the clinch and was penalized with a point and a caution. When Gergov got his opportunity on top, he lifted and threw Rajabov for one point, with Rajabov earning a one-point reversal for a 2-1 score.

In the second period, neither athlete could score in the first minute again. Once again, Rajabov could not score from the top clinch position in the clinch and was penalized with a point and a caution. Gergov hit a powerful two-point gut wrench to extend the lead to 3-0 with 16 second left in the match.

At 74 kg/163 lbs., 2000 Olympic champion Varteres Samurgachev of Russia defeated unheralded Mark Madsen of Denmark, 7-0, 2-3, 2-0.

Samurgachev opened the scoring in the first period with a lift and throw for three points from the clinch, followed by a two-point gut wrench for a 5-0 lead. Madsen was penalized with a caution and two-points for an illegal lift for a 7-0 margin, a technical fall for the period.

There were no points scored in the first minute of the second period. Madsen had the top position in the clinch. When Samurgachev refused to hold the down position, he was penalized with a caution and two points. From his clinch position, Samurgachev hit a two-point throw to tie the match at 2-2. From the feet, Madsen forced Samurgachev out of bounds for a point on the buzzer for a 3-2 win.

The third period was also scoreless going to the clinch. Samurgachev scored one point on a lift for a 1-0 lead. With Madsen on top, Samurgachev scored a one-point reversal for the 2-0 lead.

Samourgachev won the 2002 World gold medal at this weight class. He was the 2000 Olympic gold medalist at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., and won the 2004 Olympic bronze medal up at 74 kg/163 lbs.



At 84 kg/185 lbs., Alim Selimav of Belarus defeated 2004 Olympic champion Alexei Mishine of Russia defeated 1-3, 1-1, 2-2.

Selimav scored a takedown at 45 seconds for a 1-0 lead. Selimav could not score from the top in the clinch position. Mishine hit a three-point reverse lift from the clinch for a 3-1 victory.

In the second period, there were not takedowns in the first minute. Salimov did not score from the top clinch position, and was hit for a point and a caution. When Michine was on top and could not score, the match was tied at 1-1.

In the third period, no points were scored until the clinch positions. Michine was on top first, he hit a two-point reverse lift for a 2-0 lead. Salimov got the top position, Mishine was hit with a two-point penalty and caution for blocking a throw for a 2-2 tie. Salimov wins on the last point scored.

Mishine was also a 2001 World silver medalist

The Greco-Roman competition completes on Sunday, October 2 with action at 60 kg/132 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 120 kg/264.5 lbs. on Saturday, October 1.

MEDALISTS

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Nikolay Gergov (Bulgaria)
Silver - Husamaddin Rajabov  (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Alain Milan (Cuba)
Bronze - Kim Min-Chul (Korea)
5th - Armen Vardanyan (Ukraine)
5th - Kim Kum-Chol (North Korea)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Varteres Samurgachev (Russia)
Silver - Mark Madsen (Denmark)
Bronze - Marko Yli-Hannuksela (Finland)
Bronze - Konstantin Schneider (Germany)
5th - Reto Bucher (Switzerland)
5th - Mohammad Babulfath (Sweden)

84 kg/185 lbs. 
Gold - Alim Selimav (Belarus)
Silver - Alexei Mishine (Russia)
Bronze - Sandor Bardosi (Hungary)
Bronze - Namzi Avluca (Turkey)
5th - Kim Jung-Sub (Korea)
5th - Oleg Daragan (Ukraine)