MOSCOW, July 7 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s all-star team of college athletes won seven gold medals, two silver and eight bronze on the first day of competition in the Universiade international student games in Kazan.
More than 10,000 student athletes, representing some 160 nations, are taking part in the 11-day event, which closes July 17.
The home team was leading the gold medal count as the start of competition wrapped up on Sunday, while South Korea was in second place with three golds, and China in third with two.
Russia’s first gold was won by Olympic silver medalist Yevgeny Kuznetsov in the men’s three-meter springboard diving competition.
Three Russians – Azamat Laipanov, Alibek Lepshokov and Alibek Khapaev – won golds in belt wrestling for the 68-, 75- and 90-kilogram classes, respectively.
Russia’s women’s gymnastics team, which features uneven-bars Olympic champion Aliya Mustafina, won the gold in the artistic competition.
Kamil Ibragimov won gold in the men’s saber individual fencing competition, and Alexander Lesnoi came in first in men’s shot put.
