Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestler Sanan Suleymanov, who claimed his maiden world title at the ongoing World Wrestling Championships in Astana, has become one of the most patient champions in the history of Azerbaijani wrestling.
As reported by İdman.Biz, an analysis of international wrestling records shows that Suleymanov ranks second among wrestlers representing independent Azerbaijan in terms of the time elapsed between their first documented senior international appearance and their first World Championships gold medal.
Suleymanov made his first official senior international appearance in 2017 at the European Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia. Competing in the 66 kg category at the age of 20, he finished 11th.
Nine years later, he reached the top of the World Championships podium in Astana, defeating Moldova's Alexandrin Gutu 8-3 in the 77 kg final.
Remarkably, Suleymanov had twice come within one victory of claiming world gold, finishing as runner-up at the 2021 and 2023 World Championships.
According to the international competition records examined, the five Azerbaijani wrestlers with the longest documented journeys to their first world titles are as follows:
1\. Rafig Huseynov (Greco-Roman wrestling). His first documented senior international appearance dates back to 2008, while his maiden world title came in 2021 in Oslo in the 82 kg category. His journey to gold lasted 13 years.
2\. Sanan Suleymanov (Greco-Roman wrestling). He made his senior international debut in 2017 and claimed his first World Championships gold medal in 2026 in Astana in the 77 kg division, completing a nine-year journey to the title.
3\. Arif Abdullayev (freestyle wrestling). He won bronze at the 1995 European Championships in Fribourg before becoming world champion for the first time in 2003 in New York in the 60 kg category. Eight years separated those achievements.
4\. Eldaniz Azizli (Greco-Roman wrestling). He has competed at senior international level since at least 2011 and captured his first world title in 2018 in Budapest in the 55 kg category. His path to gold took seven years.
5\. Rasul Chunayev (Greco-Roman wrestling). His earliest confirmed senior international appearance dates to 2009, while he became world champion in 2015 in Las Vegas in the 71 kg division. More than six years separated the two milestones.
Rovshan Bayramov and Ulvi Ganizade also recorded similar journeys.
Bayramov made his senior World Championships debut in 2005 before winning gold in 2011. Ganizade was already competing internationally at senior level in 2018 and secured his first world title in 2024.
Both therefore took six calendar years to reach the top of the world podium, although Chunayev ranks ahead of them based on the precise length of the documented interval.
It should be noted that the ranking is based on the earliest officially documented appearances at senior international competitions. Any earlier participation in domestic events, including the Azerbaijan Championships, has not been taken into account.
After the first two competition days at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Azerbaijan have secured two gold medals.
Alongside Suleymanov's triumph in the 77 kg category, Eldaniz Azizli claimed his fifth career world title in the 55 kg division, defeating Iran's Payam Ahmadi 3-1 in the final.
The World Wrestling Championships will conclude on November 1.
