UWW praises the development of beach wrestling in Azerbaijan

December 4, 2025

Below is a clear, accurate, journalist-style English translation of your text. Terminology, names, and phrasing have been rendered in standard English with no academic or linguistic errors, while remaining faithful to the original.

UWW Praises the Development of Beach Wrestling in Azerbaijan

United World Wrestling (UWW) highly values the development of beach wrestling in Azerbaijan.

A detailed article on the subject has been published on the organization’s website, www.beachwrestling.org.
The piece notes that the six-year period from Azerbaijan’s first world title in 2019 to its medal-rich performance in 2025 has transformed the country from a pilot project into one of the strongest and most well-structured beach wrestling programs in the world.

Laying the Foundation and Implementing the Competition Format
The Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation (AWF) introduced a structured approach to beach wrestling in 2019, establishing a development pathway from the U17 level through to the senior ranks. Within just three years, Azerbaijan’s U17 and U20 national teams began winning world and European titles—evidence of how quickly and effectively the program was progressing.

The AWF adopted the international beach wrestling format and began sand-based training, focusing on balance, endurance, and the explosive offensive techniques unique to the discipline. This systematic approach has produced 12 world championship medals to date, six of them gold. Among the champions is four-time world titleholder Ibrahim Yusubov.

Building Domestic Infrastructure and Ensuring Women’s Return to the Sport
A major milestone was reached during the 2025 Azerbaijan Beach Wrestling Championship, held in July with 150 participants, where women’s competitions were included for the first time. This broadened the sport’s reach within the country and created a pathway for female athletes to enter the international arena. The move reflects the federation’s broader strategy: rather than focusing solely on elite results in the men’s division, the goal is to build a sustainable talent pipeline across all categories.

International Results: 2019–2025
Azerbaijan’s rise on the international stage began in 2019. That year, Oyan Nazariani won the +90 kg title in the inaugural season of the World Series, earning the nickname “Big Gun” and becoming the country’s first world champion in beach wrestling. His achievement laid the foundation for a run of success.

In 2022, Ibrahim Yusubov claimed the 90 kg title at the World Series Finals in Constanța, Romania, securing Azerbaijan’s second senior world championship. His performances were complemented by the consistent podium finishes of Ramiz Hasanov in the 70 kg category, who won overall silver in 2022 and repeated the achievement in 2024 in the 80 kg division. These results solidified Azerbaijan as a serious contender on the global stage.

By 2024, Yusubov had become a dominant figure, winning back-to-back World Series titles with tactical mastery and composure. His success inspired the next generation — including Vusal Aliyev and Sahib Dadashov — who began entering the senior medal race.

The 2025 season became the most successful yet. At the World Series Finals in Alexandria, Egypt, Yusubov defended his title, securing his fourth consecutive world championship. In his debut senior season, Vusal Aliyev claimed gold in the 80 kg division, marking one of the strongest team results in Azerbaijan’s history.

A milestone was also achieved in youth competitions. At the U17 World Championships in Katerini, Greece, Ulviyya Musayeva (55 kg) won gold, becoming the first female world champion in Azerbaijan’s beach wrestling history. The tournament’s results will also play a role in determining quotas for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Looking Ahead
The article concludes with comments made during the recent welcoming ceremony for Oyan Nazariani and Ibrahim Yusubov:
The AWF’s next goal is to field a full men’s lineup at major events. At the same time, the federation continues to expand its development programs for women and youth, backed by dedicated national initiatives. With Yusubov transitioning into a mentorship role, Nazariani taking on leadership responsibilities within the team he once competed for, and Musayeva emerging as one of the brightest talents of the new generation, Azerbaijan’s beach wrestling foundation is stronger than ever.