Four Russian athletes won gold medals as neutrals on the first day of the event ©FIAS

Four Russian athletes, who were competing as neutrals, came out on top of their weight classes on the first day of the World Beach Sambo Championships in Bat Yam in Israel.

Sofia Emeliukova sealed the first of the quartet after besting Romania's Anamaria Vladu in the women's 50 kilogram category.

Abulmuslim Makhdiev followed his compatriots win with one of his own in the men's under-71kg class, beating Morocco's Yassine Omari.

Elmira Kahramanova bagged the women's under-59kg final for her win over Sacha Buwalda of The Netherlands; before Aleksandr Durnoian defeated Morocco's Badreddine Diani in the men's under-88kg final.

Russia are competing under the International Sambo Federation flag due to the invasion of Ukraine after the worldwide body choose against an outright ban for athletes from Russia and Belarus.

Bat Yam is the host of this year's World Beach Sambo Championships ©Getty Images
Bat Yam is the host of this year's World Beach Sambo Championships ©Getty Images

Romania enjoyed a flurry of success through Volha Maleika, Katsiaryna Kaliuzhnaya and Ilie Natea becoming three gold medallists.

Maleika recorded a victory against home favourite Tali Samuelson in the women's under-72kg final while Kaliuzhnaya outmatched Russian neutral athlete Mariia Shekerova in the women's over-72kg final.

Natea beat Davit Arakelyan of the United States in the men's over-80kg to complete the trio of title wins.

Kazakhstan's Kaiyrberdi Aidynbay, who bested Morocco's Yasser Bouhessoune in the men's under-58kg, was the other winner of the day.

The World Beach Sambo Championships are scheduled to conclude tomorrow.