Haji Karimov crowned European champion

July 11, 2026

The U20 European Wrestling Championships continue in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.

On the sixth competition day, the first freestyle wrestling medalists have been determined.

Muhammad Ismayilov (57 kg) defeated France’s Gaspar Chenu 11-0, while Bashir Verdiyev (65 kg) beat Hungary’s Mozes Laszlo 12-1, with both Azerbaijani wrestlers securing bronze medals by technical superiority.

Haji Karimov (70 kg) faced France’s Baisangur Bitmurzayev in the final. Giving his opponent no chance, our wrestler claimed the European title with a 10-0 victory by technical superiority.

Eljan Ismayilzade (79 kg) defeated Spain’s David Kodakov 11-0 and Ireland’s Declan Blay 10-0 by technical superiority in the repechage rounds. In the bronze medal bout, our wrestler was leading Armenia’s Narek Nikogosyan 10-4 when he lost by fall.

Farhad Suleymanli (97 kg) defeated Finland’s Yoona Yunnila 4-1 to secure the bronze medal.