Squad announced for U23 World championships

The squad for the U23 World Wrestling championships has been officially confirmed. The tournament will take place from October 20 to 27 in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The announcement was made during an event held at the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation’s (AGF) training base, with federation officials in attendance. They wished success to the national teams ahead of the final world championship of the year, urging every athlete to approach the competition with full responsibility, to fight with determination in every match, and to wrestle until the very last second, regardless of the outcome.

The Greco-Roman wrestlers will open Azerbaijan’s participation at the championship. Under the guidance of head coach Aleksandr Tarakanov, senior coach Rovshan Bayramov, and coaches Hasan Aliyev and Kamran Mammadov, the team will feature Elmir Aliyev (55 kg), Ilkin Gurbanov (60 kg), Ziya Babashov (63 kg), Faraim Mustafayev (67 kg), Ruslan Nurullayev (72 kg), Davud Mammadov (77 kg), Elmin Aliyev (82 kg), Lachin Valiyev (87 kg), Ali Guliyev (97 kg) and Aykhan Mardanov (130 kg).

Following them, the women’s freestyle team will take to the mats under acting head coach Toghrul Asgarov, senior coach Agahuseyn Mustafayev and coach Solmaz Adilova. The women’s lineup consists of Asmar Cankurtaran (50 kg), Elnura Mammadova (53 kg), Gultekin Shirinova (55 kg), Nargiz Samedova (57 kg), Gunay Gurbanova (59 kg), Birgul Sultanova (62 kg) and Ruzanna Mammadova (65 kg).

In the final stage of the tournament, the men’s freestyle team will compete under head coach Khetag Gazyumov, senior coach Jabrayil Hasanov, and coaches Taymuraz Kokoyev and Sharif Sharifov. The freestyle roster includes Muhammadali Alizade (57 kg), Jeyhun Allahverdiyev (61 kg), Aykhan Abdullazade (65 kg), Kenan Heybatov (70 kg), Magomed-Bashir Khaniev (74 kg), Farid Jabbarov (79 kg), Ali Tsokayev (86 kg), Sadiq Mustafazade (92 kg), Zafer Aliyev (97 kg) and Khetag Karsanov (125 kg).

The competitions will begin daily at 12:00 (Baku time), with medal matches scheduled to start at 20:00.

Azerbaijan will also be represented on the officiating panel, with I-S category referee Asif Shiraliyev, and I category referees Kamran Aliyev and Habib Nurulu appointed to officiate at the championship.