Azerbaijani Greco-Roman athletes capture three gold medals Glory on the mat

In the capital city of Tirana, Albania, Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestlers delivered an extraordinary performance, with three out of the four competitors emerging as world champions. Notably, Eldaniz Azizli, competing in the under-55 kg category, achieved a remarkable milestone by claiming his fourth world championship title. This accomplishment not only sets him apart as a dominant force in the sport but also breaks the long-standing record of the illustrious Soviet champion Mahaddin Allahverdiyev, who secured the title three times consecutively from 1985 to 1987. Significantly, Eldaniz's recent triumph marks his third consecutive victory, following his successes in 2022 and 2023, with his inaugural world championship title won in 2018.

While it is true that the ongoing competition in Tirana, focusing on non-Olympic weight categories, may slightly diminish the overall prestige of both our team’s success and Eldaniz’s individual victory, the undeniable fact remains that he has indelibly rewritten the history of Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestling. What truly impressed me was Azizli’s unwavering focus; recognizing that he would not qualify for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris due to his weight category's exclusion from the Olympic roster, he channelled all his energy into the Albanian World Championship, determined to secure a record-breaking fourth gold medal. I am elated that his dedication and resolve culminated in such an extraordinary outcome.

While sceptics may argue that only those wrestlers who did not qualify for Paris participated in this world championship, it is crucial to emphasize that history ultimately remembers results. Eldaniz achieved his objective by triumphing in four consecutive matches with an impressive cumulative score of 28:1, leading our national team with distinction.

In addition to Eldaniz's remarkable performance, Nihad Mammadli (63 kg) and Ulvi Ghanizada (72 kg) also rose to the occasion, each clinching gold medals in their respective weight categories. In a notable moment, Nihad prevented Armenian wrestler Karen Aslanian from reaching the finals by decisively defeating him in the semifinals with a score of 6:1. Consequently, Aslanian settled for a bronze medal, alongside another Azerbaijani-born wrestler, Sadyk Lalaev, who represents Russia. On the podium, Aslanian found himself sandwiched between two Azerbaijanis and Kazakh wrestler Erzhet Zharlykasyn, whom Nihad bested in the final — a truly impressive sight.

Ulvi Ganizada, who also missed the opportunity to compete in the Paris Olympics, encountered fierce resistance only in the final bout, ultimately overcoming French wrestler Ibrahim Ghanem with a narrow score of 3:2 to secure gold.

Regrettably, the fourth Azerbaijani competitor, Gurban Gurbanov, did not fare as well, falling just short of a medal as he lost decisively in the bronze medal match to Turkish wrestler Ahmed Yilmaz, with a score of 1:8. Those bearing the Gurbanov surname have recently faced a string of challenges, both in wrestling and soccer.

In summary, our Greco-Roman wrestling team concluded their performances with an impressive haul of three gold medals, thus claiming the top position in the team standings.

We extend our best wishes to our freestyle wrestlers who are set to begin their competitions today, October 30!

Vugar Vugarli, for Caliber.Az