MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended his congratualtions to national athletes, who won gold medals on Friday and Saturday at the 2019 FISU Winter Universiade in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk.

The president congratulated cross country skiers Alexander Terentyev and Khristina Matsokina, who won gold in mixed team sprint (classic style), as well as biathletes Alexander Dedyukhin and Valeria Vasnetsova, who won in the single mixed relay event.

Putin praised the gold medal performance of figure skaters Betina Popova and Sergei Mozgov in the ice dance competition.

"You have won the hearts of spectators and judges with your talent, skills, the beauty of the performance and artistic impression, having once again confirmed that the Russian school of figure skating rightfully deserves to be one of the strongest in the world," he said.

Snowboarder Nikita Avtaneyev’s victory in men’s halfpipe Putin called as "a long-awaited gift" for everyone, who supports the athlete and roots for the success of the Russian team.

The Russian president also congratulated the trio of Russian cross country skiers - Yana Kirpichenko, Yekaterina Smirnova and Alisa Zhambalova - for winning in the women’s 3x5 km relay.

"You have demonstrated outstanding skills, the will for victory, the strength of your spirit," Putin stated. "But the most important you have performed as a single solid team.

He added that the victory of cross country skiers Ivan Kirillov, Anton Timashov, Kirill Kilivnyuk and Ivan Yakimushkin in men’s 4x7.5 km relay "was a good motivation for new achievements."

The Russian national team is first in the overall medals standings of the Universiade with 39 gold, 38 silver and 31 bronze medals. South Korea is ranked 2nd with six gold, four silver and four bronze medals. Japan is 3rd with four gold, four silver and three bronze medals.

The Russian Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, which has a population of over one million, is hosting the 2019 FISU Winter Universiade  March 2-12. The 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk offers 76 sets of medals in 11 sports competitions, which are Alpine Skiing, Curling, Biathlon, Figure Skating, Cross-Country Skiing, Ice Hockey, Snowboard, Short Track Speed Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Bandy and Ski Orienteering.