Russians, competing as neutrals, were again tallying most golds at World Youth, Junior and Cadets Sambo Championships ©FIAS

Neutral Russians were once again the dominant force at the World Youth, Junior and Cadets Sambo Championships, with athletes taking 10 of the 14 medals available on the final day in Yerevan.

The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) has decided to allow Russia and Belarus to compete under its flag following the invasion of Ukraine, rather than suspending the two countries completely.

Russian athletes have regularly excelled at sambo events and they repeated their success again by picking up five in each of the men's and women's junior competitions.

Vadim Dedov started the tally in the men's under-58-kilogram class before Dagoev Ali and Ilya Zatylkin added titles in the men's under-71kg and under-79kg divisions.

The other two male winners for Russia under the FIAS flag were Kirill Kniazkov and Farzinshoh Khusenov at under-88kg and under-98kg.

Russians won five golds in both the women's and men's competitions under the FIAS flag ©FIAS
Russians won five golds in both the women's and men's competitions under the FIAS flag ©FIAS

Diyorbek Pirnazarov sealed the under-68kg title for Uzbekistan while Tajikistan's Farzinshoh Khusenov topped the over-98kg group to round off the men's tournament.

Meanwhile, Sofia Emeliukova was the first neutral Russian to rise to champion status in the women's event by taking gold in the under-50kg class.

Margarita Barneva followed up her compatriot at under-54kg before Ekaterina Doroshenko joined the success at under-72kg.

Daria Rechkalova triumphed in the under-80kg division and Olga Mikheeva ensured gold medals for those competing under the FIAS banner reached double digits in the over-80kg category.

Oyunchimeg Oyungerel put Mongolia top of the podium in the under-59 division while Uzbekistan were represented among the title winners through Mukhlisakhon Kadirberganova at under-65kg level.