Yusup Abdusalomov (red) of Tajikistan fights against Revazi Mindorashvili of Georgia during their men's freestyle 84kg gold medal match of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 21, 2008. Revazi Mindorashvili beat Yusup Abdusalomov and grabbed the gold.[Xinhua/Lu Mingxiang]

Revazi Mindorashvili of Georgia surrendered the first period but stormed back to claim the men's freestyle 84kg wrestling gold medal at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday.

Mindorashvili dropped a fluctuating first period to Yusup Abdusalomov of Tajikistan, runner-up in last year's World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, but took control of the second and third periods for a 2-1 (2-3, 3-0, 4-0) victory.

Mindorashvili awarded Georgia its second wrestling gold and also its third at the Beijing Olympic Games.

"Abdusalomov was a very strong opponent and I lost to him in the only time we met," said Mindorashvili. "But the victory proved that I did better this time."

Mindorashvili stunned gold-medal favourite Russian Georgy Ketoev in the semifinal.

"Ketoev is really difficult to beat. We met each other for five time before and I lost twice," said Mindorashvili. "This time I performed to my best."

Taras Danko of Ukraine used a pair of force-outs in the first bronze medal match to defeat Turk Serhat Balci 2-0 and improved on his seventh-place finish at the Athens 2004 Games.

"I'm happy with this result. I did my best," said Danko. "I was European champion but I knew the Olympics were not like any other competition. Everybody here is full of strength and power."

Ketoev defeated Davyd Bichinashvili of Germany 2-1 on criteria with a two point turn for exposure in the third period for the other bronze.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)