THE STRONGEST IN EUROPE

The European Wrestling Championships for athletes under 20, held in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, can be considered one of the most successful tournaments for the national team in 2026. The national wrestling school demonstrated its commitment to excellence by winning a total of 15 medals (4 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze), once again confirming its high standard.

Stars of the Championship

Emin Javadli (55 kg) was crowned European champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, whilst Ruzanna Mammadova (62 kg), Haji Kerimov (70 kg) and Yusif Dursunov (125 kg) were victorious in freestyle wrestling.

Silver medals in Greco-Roman wrestling were awarded to Javidan Nahmedov (77 kg) and Orkhan Hajiyev (87 kg). In freestyle wrestling, the medals were won by Günay Gurbanova (59 kg), Jamal Abbasov (61 kg) and Nurlan Aghazade (74 kg).

The bronze medallists were Greco-Roman wrestlers Aykhan Javadov (60 kg) and Elmin Aliyev (82 kg), as well as freestyle wrestlers Muhammad Ismayilov (57 kg), Bashir Verdiyev (65 kg), Muhammad Abbaszade (86 kg) and Farhad Suleymanli (97 kg).

It is noteworthy that more than half of all the medals were won by freestyle wrestlers. The team, which secured two gold, two silver and four bronze medals, scored 170 points and, finishing second only to the Russian team (194 points), became European runners-up. By taking this action, the team accomplished a remarkable feat, achieving the best result in its history in terms of both the number of medals and the total points scored.

New coach—new names

The junior freestyle wrestling team has enjoyed a successful first season under the guidance of the newly appointed head coach, Ashraf Aliyev. All ten members of the team competed for medals, which is a strong indicator of the strength of the Azerbaijani wrestling school, at least at European level.

The Azerbaijani team arrived at the tournament with a substantially updated line-up, and in virtually all weight categories, the athletes encountered strong competition. Despite this, the championships saw the emergence of new names amongst the under-20 wrestlers.

The most experienced member of the team, world and European youth champion Yusif Dursunov, once again demonstrated his leadership skills. In his final season in the under-20 category, he was considered the main contender for the gold medal. Throughout the tournament, Dursunov displayed top-class wrestling, and in the final he showed real character, making the most of his opportunity. He made history as the first Azerbaijani freestyle wrestler to become European Under-20 champion in the heaviest weight category.

This triumph is all the more noteworthy given his victory in the final against a wrestler from Russia's foremost wrestling institution, and the fact that this weight category is part of the Olympic programme. Therefore, over the next two years, the young athlete will face strong competition for a place on the national team.

Another standout performer on the freestyle team, Haji Kerimov, emerged as a key figure in the tournament in Skopje. In four bouts, including a match against a Russian representative, the graduate of the Absheron wrestling school scored 37 points, without allowing his opponents to score a single point. It is noteworthy that coaches have predicted a career for him that will be just as distinguished as that of his renowned compatriot, Haji Aliyev. Nineteen-year-old Kerimov is already demonstrating his potential to achieve great heights in the future.

The first and final medals

With regard to women's wrestling, the national team, led by Olympic champion Toghrul Askerov, had its hopes pinned on two athletes in particular. The team's success was due to their efforts.

The talented Günay Gurbanova, who had previously won the European Under-23 Championships twice and the European Junior Championships once, lost to a Swedish competitor in the final and had to settle for the silver medal.

For Ruzanna Mammadova, who has just been awarded the title of European champion in the under-20 category for the third time, this tournament will be her last in that age group. Going forward, she will be competing at senior level.

The Greco-Roman wrestling team, recently under the management of Turaj Huseynli, has also achieved a satisfactory set of results. Aykhan Javadov and Elmin Aliyev, who both demonstrated considerable potential, secured bronze medals, while Emina Javadli's gold medal was a testament to her remarkable strength of character. For Javidan Nahmedov, the silver medal was the first European honour of his career, whilst for Orkhan Hajiyev it was his first at the European Under-20 Championships.

Haji Kerimov: 'My goals are very high'

Haji Kerimov, European Under-20 Freestyle Wrestling Champion, acknowledged the significant contribution of the coaching staff to his success, stating: "The entire team prepared meticulously and over an extended period for this prestigious tournament. Praise be to God, our efforts have been successful. We have achieved the result we had hoped for. The team's total success was reflected in the number of medals won, with eight being awarded in total. It should be noted that only two of our wrestlers did not succeed in reaching the podium, a result of their own personal errors. With regard to my performance, I became European champion approximately three or four years ago, and I have now won the gold medal for the second time. I am ambitious for my professional growth. I dedicate this victory to the memory of our martyrs, who gave their lives for their homeland."

Overall, the performance of the young Azerbaijani wrestlers can be considered a success. It should be noted that an even tougher challenge lies ahead for them—the World Under-20 Championships, which will take place from 16 to 23 August in Bratislava (Slovakia).