Watch: Vladimir Putin toppling Russia’s top judokas before falling to a female athlete

Moscow, Feb 23: Russian President Vladimir Putin loves self-promotion and he doesn't even leave the minimum of opportunity that comes his way. The 66-year-old leader who is serving his fourth and final term at the helm (unless some changes in the rules happen) is often found displaying machismo and his love for sporting activities - be it playing ice-hockey, swimming or riding a horse.

Recently, the man was seen flashing his martial-arts skills during a session with his country's judo team in Sochi.

The summer beach resort on the shores of the Black Sea hosted Putin's 'Valentine's Day talks' with Turkish and Iranian counterparts - Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani where they spoke on Syria. Following the arduous talks, Putin went to sweat it out with Russia's top judokas.

A clip also came out showing the strongman taking on one athlete after another and throwing them on the floor before he was grounded by a female athlete.

She was actually an Olympic bronze-medallist Natalia Kuziutina. The president though did not mind the outcome and kissed the 29-year-old athlete on the top of her head.

Russian news agencies said that Putin, a black belt himself, injured one of his fingers during the training session.

Putin, a former KGB spy, later told reporters that physical exercises raise adrenaline level and that have a positive impact on one's mood and his/her outlook towards the world changes, according to a Russian media report.

Story first published: Saturday, February 23, 2019, 15:42 [IST]
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