Russia retained their sambo President's Cup title with consummate ease ©ITG

Russia successfully defended their sambo President’s Cup crown here with an emphatic 7-0 win in the final against the team of the Commonwealth.

Ruslan Bagdasarian set Russia on the right path with a 4-0 victory over Keron Bourne in the men’s 62 kilogram category, after which team-mate Nikita Kletskov won by the same scoreline against Tame Grover in the men’s 68kg class.

There were also 4-0 victories for women’s 60kg competitor Yana Kostenko and men’s 74kg fighter Azamat Sidakov against Nicole Jenicek and Gabriel Da Silva respectively, while Ilya Kokovich was equally comfortable in beating Michal Frydrych in the men’s 82kg category.

Ekaterina Onoprienko made it 6-0 to Russia as she overcame Katy Bryant 3-1 in the women’s 68kg class, and the rout was complete after Arsen Khandzhian claimed a 4-0 success against Nicolas Papadopoulos in the men’s 90kg category.

Russia’s margin of victory replicated that from their Group A wins against Germany and France, underlining their domination of the sport which the country founded.

Hosts Great Britain, who lost 7-2 to Russia in last year’s inaugural final, had to settle for bronze on this occasion with a 5-2 win against Germany, and they were joined on the third step of the podium by France, 6-1 victors at the expense of Spain.

Russia were a cut above their rivals in the President's Cup
Russia were a cut above their rivals in the President's Cup ©ITG

The supremacy of Russia extended to the British Combat Sambo Grand Slam, a promotional event in an open weight category which ran alongside the President’s Cup, as Mikhail Mokhnatkin defeated Britain’s Matthew Clempner 4-1 in the final.

Mokhnatkin had earlier seen off the challenges of Bulgaria's Genko Ivanov and France's Sidi Bouarfa en route to the gold medal match.  

Mexico’s Diego Vazquez Montes and France’s Sidi Bouarfa came away with the bronze medals.

The hosts of next year’s President’s Cup is due to be announced early next year, with Britain set to host again. 

insidethegames.biz was an official partner of this year’s event.



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