One medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games

November 19, 2025

The wrestling competition continues at the Islamic Solidarity Games being held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Today, contests were held in two Greco-Roman and three women’s weight categories.

Greco-Roman Wrestling

Murad Ahmadiev (97 kg) defeated Egypt’s Mohamed Gabra by technical superiority (8:0) and Turkey’s Beytullah Kayışdağ 5:1 to reach the final. In the decisive bout, our athlete lost 1:5 to Iran’s Olympic and two-time world champion Mohammad Saravi and concluded his debut at the Islamic Games with a silver medal.

Beka Kandelaki (130 kg) lost in Group A to Egypt’s Abdellatif Mohamed (3:4) and Iran’s Fardin Hedayati (0:8).

Women’s Wrestling

Jala Aliyeva (57 kg) scored “falls” against Tunisia’s Chad Jeljeli and Bangladesh’s Mim in Group A, and defeated Turkey’s Elvira Kamaloğlu 19:10. Finishing the group stage as the clear leader, our national team’s captain then pinned Kyrgyzstan’s Sezim Jumanazarova in the semifinal to book her place in the final ahead of time. Aliyeva faced Elvira again in the gold-medal match, beating the Turkish wrestler 6:2 to defend her title and win her second Islamic Solidarity Games gold medal.

Elnura Mammadova (50 kg) beat Turkey’s Zehra Demirhan 8:5 in Group B but could not overcome Nigeria’s Mercy Genesis, losing 2:12. Advancing to the semifinals as the group runner-up, our wrestler was unable to resist Uzbekistan’s Aktenge Keunimjayeva (0:10). However, after defeating Algeria’s Shebila Sheyma 5:0, Elnura claimed the bronze medal.

Gultekin Shirinova lost 4:11 to Kyrgyzstan’s Aruuke Kadirbekkyzy in the quarterfinals.

It should be noted that tomorrow, five more of our wrestlers will take to the mat.