Former Olympic champion and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Akgül faced the runner-up at the last Games and three-time world champion Petriashvili in the men's freestyle 125 kilograms final, one of the standout ties at the Arena Zagreb in the Croatian capital.

It was reigning world champion Akgül who earned a third successive European crown, prevailing 9-4 in the deciding bout.

Giorgi Meshvildishvili of Azerbaijan and Hungary's Dániel Ligeti earned bronzes with 7-4 and 6-2 wins against Italy's Abraham Conyedo and Greece's Azamat Khosonov respectively.

Slovakia's Tajmuraz Salkazanov also made it three consecutive continental titles at 74kg, winning a low-scoring final against Italy's Frank Chamizo 3-1.

Avtandil Kentchadze of Georgia and Turkey's Soner Demirtaş placed joint-third.

Feyzullah Aktürk provided a second success of the day for Turkey, defending his 92kg title with a 5-2 win against Azerbaijan's Osman Nurmagomedov.

Georgia's Miriani Maisuradze and Slovakia's Ermak Kardanov were the bronze medallists.

San Marino's Olympic bronze medallist Myles Amine was denied victory in the 86kg final by Greece's Dauren Kurugliev, who prevailed 3-1.

Abubakr Abakarov of Azerbaijan and Poland's Sebastian Jezierzański earned bronze.

Armenia's Arsen Harutyunyan took his third European title at 61kg, clinching an impressive 5-2 win against Albania's world champion Zelimkhan Abakarov.

Emrah Ormanoğlu of Turkey and Shota Phartenadze of Georgia completed the podium.

Women's freestyle wrestling began today in Zagreb.

Azerbaijan's four-time Olympic medallist Mariya Stadnik is seeking a 10th European title and reached the 50kg final against Ukraine's Oksana Livach.

Defending champion Andreea Ana of Romania is set to face Hungary's Erika Bognár in the 55kg final, with Moldova's Anastasia Nichita taking on Yuliya Tkach of Ukraine in the 59kg decider.

The other finals are set to feature Ukraine's Alla Belinska against Bulgaria's Yuliana Yaneva at 68kg, and Turkey's world and European champion Yasemin Adar against Austria's Martina Kuenz at 76kg.

Those five finals are set to be held tomorrow, along with qualification rounds and semi-finals in the other five women's wrestling weight categories.