Kvirkelia wins Georgia’s 1st wrestling gold

Manuchar Kvirkelia turned two strong moves into a two-period victory on Wednesday over China's Chang Yongxiang in the Greco-Roman 74-kg weight class and Georgia's first Olympic wrestling gold medal.

Manuchar Kvirkelia turned two strong moves into a two-period victory on Wednesday over China’s Chang Yongxiang in the Greco-Roman 74-kg weight class and Georgia’s first Olympic wrestling gold medal.

Kvirkelia’s decisive victory by 6-0 and 3-0 in the best-of-three format came less than a week after Russia and Georgia fought battles in the Caucasus mountains nation _ a gold that gave his homeland a brief bit of joy amid the turmoil and anxiety.

The gold also was Georgia’s first — and second medal overall — in Beijing.

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Kvirkelia, at 30 one of the most experienced wrestlers in any Greco weight class, used a 5-point throw to prematurely end the first period.

Kvirkelia added a 2-point throw on a gut wrench in the second to clearly frustrate Chang, who has had little success previously on the world level and was attempting to win China’s first wrestling gold.

The 23-year-old Chang’s lack of experience — he was 36th and 26th in the last two world championships — showed as he had no moves to counter Kvirkelia’s throws, constant pressure and aggressiveness.

Kvirkelia was the 2003 world champion and was third in 2006 and has been wrestling on the world level since Chang was barely into his teens.

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Kvirkelia also didn’t let the pro-Chang crowd become a factor, quickly silencing thousands of raucous, plastic stick-thumping rooters in the bout’s early moments.

The bronze medalists were Christophe Guenot and 2007 world champion Yavor Yanakiev of Bulgaria.

Yanakiev, last year’s surprise world champion, lost any chance for the gold when he was upset by Chang 3-2, 1-1 in the opening round.