Gunay and Ruzanna reach the world championship final

August 20, 2026

The U20 World Wrestling Championships are continuing in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

On the fifth competition day, finalists were determined in the 57kg and 59kg women’s wrestling categories, as well as in the 61kg and 86kg freestyle wrestling categories.

Gunay Gurbanova (57kg) defeated all her opponents before the semifinals by technical superiority. Our representative overcame Hungary’s Liliana Kapuvari (12-1), Uzbekistan’s Ulbiye Karylybayeva (11-1) and Canada’s Agniya Krakowskaya by fall to book her place in the semifinals. In the semifinal, she defeated India’s Tanvi Gundesh Magdum by fall to reach the U20 World Championship final. Gunay will face Japan’s Konami Ono in tomorrow’s final.

Ruzanna Mammadova (59kg) also gave her opponents no chance. Our three-time U20 European champion defeated Spain’s Rosa Molina Rodriguez (10-0) and India’s Komal Komal (14-2) by technical superiority to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinal, Mammadova defeated Hungary’s Eda Balazs by the maximum margin (11-0) to secure her place in the final. Ruzanna will wrestle Japan’s Sae Noguchi tomorrow.

Jamal Abbasov (61kg) defeated Moldova’s Marcel Andronache and Mongolia’s Dulguun Enkbaatar 10-0, but lost to the USA’s Aaron James Seidel 13-2 in the quarterfinals. Jamal will compete in the repechage tomorrow.

Mammad Abbaszade (86kg) eliminated Bulgaria’s Alan Tigiyev by fall, but lost 14-1 to Turkmenistan’s Alp Arslan Begenjov in the quarterfinals.