Elmir Aliyev reaches the U23 World championships final for the second consecutive year

October 13, 2026

The U23 World Wrestling Championships have got underway in Las Vegas, USA.

On the opening day, finalists were determined in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 60 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg and 97 kg weight categories.

Elmir Aliyev (60 kg) defeated Poland’s Olivier Tomasz Skrzypczak by technical superiority (8–0) in the round of 16 before overcoming Kyrgyzstan’s Kubanych Arinov 7–3 in the quarter-finals. In a closely contested semi-final, Aliyev also prevailed over Uzbekistan’s Mehroj Bahromov, winning 4–2 to reach the U23 World Championships final for the second consecutive year. Tomorrow, he will face Kazakhstan’s Aibek Aitbekov in the gold-medal bout.

Mahammad Shukurzada (67 kg) lost 1–5 to Türkiye’s Azat Sariyar in the round of 16. As his opponent advanced to the final, Shukurzada will compete in the repechage, where he will face Kazakhstan’s Tolegen Amirkhanov.

Farid Khalilov (72 kg) began his campaign with a 4–1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Kuchkorov but then lost 1–7 to Kazakhstan’s Yussuf Ashrapov in the quarter-finals. Since Ashrapov reached the final, Khalilov will have another chance to continue his campaign on the second day of competition. He will face the winner of the bout between Kyrgyzstan’s Yriskeldi Khamzayev and Moldova’s Vasile Zabica in the repechage.

Elmin Aliyev (82 kg) recorded victories over Belarusian wrestler Ilya Valevsky (9–4) and Hungary’s Szabolcs Istvan Szina (5–2). However, he narrowly lost 2–3 to Sweden’s Alexander Mikael Johansson in the quarter-finals.

Ismayil Rzayev (97 kg) withdrew from the competition due to injury.