Baku 2015: Russia and Belarus dominate Sambo medals

Before competition started, Belarusian sambist Andrei Kazusionak said, "Russia rate this event even higher than the world championships and have chosen all their top-ranked athletes. They will have a formidable team." Unfortunately for him, he was right.

Had he won his -90kg final it would have put Belarus level with Russia - for a while - on three golds apiece. But he lost to three-time world champion Alsim Chernoskulov, and the Russians eventually finished with a 100% record, winning all five gold-medal matches and all three bronze-medal contests in which their athletes competed.

Belarus were second best with two golds, two silvers and three bronzes. Azerbaijan had a disappointing evening, losing seven out of seven medal matches.

The odd one out was Jandric. She had lost to her opponent in the -68kg final, Volha Namazava, recently and gained revenge, winning 2-1 on points. "Number one is the lucky number for me right now," said Jandric, who will be 22 on Saturday. "Everything is so emotional for me."

Russia even won a gold with a third-choice sambist. Yana Kostenko lost in the national championships in March to Svetlana Burtseva, who was the original selection for Baku 2015. Burtseva got injured, the second-ranked competitor was unavailable so, at three days' notice, Kostenko was told she was in the team.

After defeating Kalina Stefanova of Bulgaria, Kostenko, a world champion in 2012 and 2013, said, "I felt bad for a couple of weeks after losing, but I was given this chance and I took it. I'm thrilled."

Azerbaijan's great hope of the evening, world champion Amil Gasimov, was beaten in the -74kg final and taken from the arena in a wheelchair. He injured his right Achilles in a fierce hold by the winner, Belarusian Stsiapan Papou, who carried Gasimov off the mat in a gesture that earned warm applause from a crowd of nearly 5,000.

"I did it because I have had the same injury and I know how much it hurts," said Papou. He also helped Gasimov, who soon recovered, on and off stage for the medal ceremony too.

 

(baku2015.com)