Alexandr Dokturishivili of Uzbekistan claimed the gold in the men's 74kg Greco-Roman wrestling final at the Athens Olympics Thursday with a 4-1 win over Marko Yli-Hannuksela of Finland

Uzbekistan's Alexandr Dokturishivilt (C) at the reward ceremony after winning the gold medal for the men's Greco-Roman 74kg final at Athens Olympic Games in Greece, Aug. 26, 2004.

Varteres Samourgachev of Russia took the bronze, sidelining Reto Bucher of Switzerland 10-0 from the medal tally.

An Asian champion this year and coached under Djoni Rekhviashvili since 1994, Dokturishivili began the wrestling in Georgia in 1992.

On his nationality, Dokturishivili told reporters that "I lost a national championship in Georgia and I was offered the opportunity to fight for Uzbekistan."

During the semifinal earlier Thursday, Dokturishvili got rid of Barteres Samourgachev of Russia and made his way into the gold medal match.

Yli-Hannuksela, the 30-year-old veteran, is currently a carpenter and serviceman with an education background of carpentry and a hobby of music listening.

With a dream of winning an Olympic gold medal, he began the sport at the age of seven and debuted at the European Championships in Athens in 1994.

"I am disappointed that I did not take the gold but the silver is also important," he said. "I was tired from the morning session. "

A world champion in the category of 76kg in 1997, he earned a bronze at the Sydney Olympics in the same discipline.