Russia’s Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov has said he had no doubts that Abdulrashid Sadulaev would win gold in 97kg freestyle at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest ©Getty Images

Russia's Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov has said he never doubted that Russian wrestler Abdulrashid Sadulaev would win gold at the United World Wrestling (UWW) World Championships here in Budapest, after the 22-year-old triumphed in the 97 kilograms freestyle division on Tuesday (October 23).

Sadulaev won what had been dubbed "the rematch of the century" against Kyle Snyder from the United States, to whom he lost in the World Championship final last year in Paris.

Many thought Snyder would win again here at the Papp László SportArena, but as it turned out, the Russian 2016 Olympic champion dominated, claiming the win by fall after just 70 seconds.

Kolobkov reportedly said he had no doubt Sadulaev would win.

"To be honest, I never had a slight doubt about his victory," Kolobkov is quoted as saying by the Russian news agency TASS.

Abdulrashid Sadulaev, in blue, won by technical fall after just 70 seconds ©Getty Images
Abdulrashid Sadulaev, in blue, won by technical fall after just 70 seconds ©Getty Images

"He [Sadulaev] is a remarkable athlete and all of his bouts [at the World Championship] left no place for doubts as his advantage was overwhelming.

"However, each athlete is facing a new season after the World Championship events and I wish him to preserve his current inner strength and confidence to finish with the same result in two years [at the Olympic Games in Tokyo]."

Not only did Sadulaev win Olympic gold in Rio in 2016, the 22-year-old also already had two world titles at 86kg from 2014 and 2015.

Four more gold medals were won tonight including a first for hosts Hungary.

This year's Championships will finish on Sunday (October 28).