Greco-Roman wrestlers win five medals at European Championships

The Azerbaijan national Greco-Roman wrestling team has finished the U-20 European Championships in Skopje, North Macedonia, with five medals, AzerNEWS reports.

The team added two more medals on the third day of competition. Aykhan Javadov (60 kg) defeated Romania's Dragos Draga 6–1, while Elmin Aliyev (82 kg) beat Hungary's Szabolcs Szina by technical superiority, 8–0, to claim bronze medals.

Roman Karimov (67 kg) dominated his repechage matches, defeating Lithuania's Eimantas Andriuska 9–0 and Moldova's Maxim Damaschiin 10–0. However, in the bronze medal match, he lost 2–6 to Russia's Amir Sovmiz and finished in fifth place.

As a result, Azerbaijan's Greco-Roman wrestling team concluded the continental championship with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.

Earlier in the tournament, Emin Javadli (55 kg) won the gold medal, while Javidan Nehmatov (77 kg) and Orkhan Hajiyev (87 kg) each earned silver medals.

Wrestling remains the most widely followed sport in Azerbaijan and is governed by the National Wrestling Federation, established in 1993.

A major turning point in the nation's wrestling legacy came at the Rio Olympic Games, where Azerbaijan distinguished itself as one of only two countries to improve its medal haul across five consecutive Olympic Games.

Azerbaijan's success continued in 2020, when its freestyle wrestlers finished third in the overall medal standings at the Individual World Cup in Serbia, capturing two medals, one silver and one bronze, behind leaders Russia and Turkiye.

Further highlighting the country's strength on the world stage, Osman Nurmagomedov claimed the 92 kg world title at the 2022 World Championships in Belgrade, overcoming a Russian rival in the final.

Most recently, Azerbaijan added to its Olympic record at the 2024 Summer Games, securing three bronze medals in wrestling. Hasrat Jafarov reached the podium in the 67 kg Greco-Roman category, while Giorgi Meshvildishvili (125 kg) and Magomedkhan Magomedov (97 kg) delivered bronze medals in freestyle wrestling.

The country has earned a reputation for successfully hosting major competitions, from European and World Championships to youth tournaments, welcoming athletes from around the globe with world-class venues and hospitality.

Cities like Baku, Ganja, and others have become key destinations for wrestling fans, showcasing Azerbaijan's ability to combine a rich sporting heritage with modern event management.