Dzhamal Otarsultanov rewarded the Russian selectors with an Olympic gold medal when he took the 55kg men's freestyle wrestling title at London's Excel Arena on Friday.
Otarsultanov, a three-time European champion, was picked ahead of Viktor Lebedev after defeating the two-time world champion and made good on that form with victory in the Olympic final over Georgia's Vladimer Khinchegashvili.
Khinchegashvili, runner-up to Otarsultanov at last year's European Championships in Dortmund and a double world junior champion, pushed the Russian hard with coaches of both wrestlers challenging the referee's award of points.
But the 25-year-old Otarsultanov ultimately won 3-1.
Khinchegashvili overcame a tough semi-final contest with Japan's Shinichi Yumoto, one of the bronze medallists along with North Korea's Yang Kyong-Il.
The Japanese rolled the Georgian several times in the first period and Khinchegashvili needed treatment for what appeared to be an ankle injury.
But he hit back with a third period takedown to book his place in the final.
Khinchegashvili's victory gave India's Amit Kumar, his beaten opponent in the last eight, a chance to fight for a bronze medal through the repechage.
But after both periods of his bout with Bulgaria's Radoslav Velikov -- runner-up at last year's world championships -- ended scoreless, Kumar lost on a couple of extra-time leg-grabs.
{{/usCountry}}But after both periods of his bout with Bulgaria's Radoslav Velikov -- runner-up at last year's world championships -- ended scoreless, Kumar lost on a couple of extra-time leg-grabs.
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