Azerbaijan's Greco-Roman wrestling team concluded the World Championships in Astana with two gold medals and one silver, finishing second in the team standings. The result was undoubtedly a success, but behind those three medals lie several questions that the coaching staff will need to address in the coming months.
As reported by İdman.Biz, the team, led by head coach Mohammad Bana, collected 104 points, finishing behind only Iran (192) and ahead of Uzbekistan (80). However, Azerbaijan secured a medal in just one of the six Olympic weight categories – 77 kg. This makes the championship's results particularly significant ahead of qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Eldaniz Azizli: Fifth gold and a possible farewell
The most historic achievement for Azerbaijan in Astana was Eldaniz Azizli's fifth world title in the 55 kg category. The 34-year-old, who had previously won world gold in 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024, once again demonstrated his class by defeating Iran's Payam Ahmadi 3-1 in the final.
The victory carried additional significance because Ahmadi had eliminated Azizli in the semi-finals of the previous year's World Championships. This time, the Azerbaijani's experience proved decisive. He executed a disciplined tactical plan, waited for his opponent to make a mistake and capitalised on it to secure victory.
However, this fifth title could prove to be Azizli's final major achievement on the wrestling mat. Before the final, he had spoken about his intention to retire after reaching that milestone. Following the tournament, however, he clarified that no final decision had been made and that he would discuss his future with his coaches and federation officials within the next one or two weeks.
Regardless of his decision, Azerbaijan must already begin planning for the future of the 55 kg division. Azizli has been its undisputed leader for many years, and finding a suitable replacement will not be easy. After all, he is not simply an outstanding wrestler but an athlete who has repeatedly given Azerbaijan strong medal prospects at major international competitions.
It is worth remembering, however, that 55 kg is not an Olympic weight category. Therefore, Azizli's potential retirement would represent a major loss for Azerbaijan at World and European Championships but would not directly affect the country's Olympic ambitions.
Sanan Suleymanov: The gold that took years to achieve
While Azizli's triumph reinforced an already extraordinary legacy, Sanan Suleymanov's victory at 77 kg marked a new chapter in his career.
The 29-year-old had spent almost a decade pursuing world championship gold. Since making his senior international debut in 2017, he had reached two World Championship finals, in 2021 and 2023, but both times finished with silver.
In Astana, Suleymanov finally overcame that barrier, defeating Moldova's Alexandrin Gutu 8-3 in the final.
Throughout the tournament, the Azerbaijani demonstrated not only technical ability but also a crucial quality at this level – the capacity to control the tempo and direction of his bouts.
His semi-final performance against Iran's Ali Oskoo was particularly revealing. Suleymanov secured a disciplined 2-0 victory without taking unnecessary risks or chasing spectacular moves.
For Azerbaijan, this gold medal carries particular importance. Unlike Azizli's division, the 77 kg category is part of the Olympic programme.
The country now has a reigning world champion in one of the six Greco-Roman weight classes that will feature at the Los Angeles Games.
Suleymanov therefore already appears to be one of Azerbaijan's leading candidates to secure Olympic qualification and challenge for a medal in 2028.
Nihat Mammadli: A defeat of his own making
One of Azerbaijan's most painful moments in Astana came in the 63 kg final, where Nihat Mammadli, the 2024 world champion, missed an excellent opportunity to claim his second title.
Facing Armenia's Karen Aslanyan, Mammadli suffered an 8-4 defeat despite making an almost perfect start.
The Azerbaijani executed a four-point move to establish a 4-0 lead but subsequently lost control of the contest.
Aslanyan quickly reduced the deficit before producing a four-point throw of his own to move 7-4 ahead. Mammadli was unable to reverse the situation in the second period.
Was this primarily a defeat of Mammadli's own making? To some extent, yes.
The wrestler himself effectively acknowledged as much after the final, admitting that he had rushed his actions, made too many mistakes and could have won had he remained calmer.
The bout once again demonstrated the importance of psychological resilience in the decisive stages of major tournaments.
Mammadli possesses the technical ability to defeat the world's strongest opponents, but in Astana he lacked the composure required to turn a commanding position into victory.
Hasrat Jafarov: Two defeats and a warning sign
Hasrat Jafarov's performance in the 67 kg category raised even more questions.
One of Azerbaijan's leading wrestlers and a bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Jafarov left Astana without a medal.
In the semi-finals, he lost to Iran's Olympic and reigning world champion Saeid Esmaeili on criteria after a 1-1 draw.
It was the second consecutive year that Esmaeili had prevented him from reaching the World Championship final.
While defeat to an opponent of Esmaeili's calibre can be understood, Jafarov's bronze-medal bout against Kazakhstan's Bagdat Sabaz was considerably more troubling.
The Azerbaijani led 5-1 with less than a minute remaining but allowed his opponent to turn the contest around and eventually lost 8-5.
Sabaz produced a four-point move before extending his advantage to complete the comeback.
Such a defeat is difficult to explain through a lack of technique or wrestling ability. Instead, it points towards a loss of concentration and an inability to manage an already established lead.
Interestingly, head coach Mohammad Bana suggested that the setback could ultimately benefit Jafarov's career.
According to the Iranian specialist, the defeat might provide an important psychological lesson ahead of the Olympic Games, where Jafarov remains one of Azerbaijan's leading gold-medal prospects.
Bana may be right. However, that lesson will only prove valuable if the coaching staff and athlete identify and address the reasons behind the collapse.
Olympic weight categories: More questions than answers
The results from Astana become particularly revealing when examined through the six Olympic weight categories.
At 60 kg, Murad Mammadov reached the quarter-finals before losing 4-1 to Kazakhstan's Aidos Sultangali.
One possible option for strengthening this division could be Nihat Mammadli.
If the 63 kg wrestler can move down to 60 kg without compromising his strength, endurance or overall physical condition, the coaching staff should seriously consider the possibility.
At 67 kg, Jafarov remains Azerbaijan's leading candidate for Olympic qualification. Despite his disappointment in Astana, his international achievements and proven ability provide grounds for optimism.
The 77 kg category, following Suleymanov's triumph, currently appears to be the team's strongest Olympic division.
The situation is considerably more complicated in the three heavier Olympic categories.
At 87 kg, Islam Abbasov let victory slip away against eventual world champion Semen Novikov of Bulgaria. Abbasov had established a 5-0 lead but conceded the decisive move with just ten seconds remaining.
At 97 kg, Murad Ahmadiev suffered a narrow 5-4 quarter-final defeat to Belarusian Kirill Maskevich before losing again in the repechage.
Meanwhile, Sarkhan Mammadov's campaign at 130 kg ended in the round of 16 following a 6-2 defeat to Belarusian Pavel Hlinchuk.
In these divisions, the coaching staff must not only address technical and tactical shortcomings but also assess the potential for greater domestic competition.
One possibility could involve Gurban Gurbanov, who currently competes in the non-Olympic 82 kg category, moving up to 87 kg.
However, such a decision would require careful evaluation of his physical capabilities and ability to adapt to heavier opponents.
Gurbanov himself came close to success in Astana but suffered a narrow 7-6 defeat to Kyrgyzstan's Akzhol Makhmudov after surrendering his advantage in the closing stages.
Another Azerbaijani competing in a non-Olympic division, Ulvi Ganizade at 72 kg, was eliminated after suffering a knee injury in the quarter-finals.
Taken together, these performances reveal a recurring problem throughout Azerbaijan's campaign: several wrestlers had genuine opportunities to achieve better results but failed to protect their advantages at decisive moments.
Less than 11 months until Las Vegas
Following the championships, head coach Mohammad Bana admitted that he had expected Azerbaijan to win five or six medals.
The specialist also accepted responsibility for certain defeats and emphasised the need to prioritise psychological preparation.
His assessment is difficult to dispute.
Astana demonstrated that Azerbaijan possesses the technical quality to compete against the world's strongest Greco-Roman wrestling nations.
However, consistently converting winning positions into victories remains an essential requirement if the team is to maximise its potential.
There is relatively little time to correct these shortcomings.
From September 11 to 19, 2027, Las Vegas will host the World Wrestling Championships, the first qualification event for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Olympic quota places will be awarded to the National Olympic Committees of the four medallists in each Olympic weight category.
With less than eleven months remaining, Azerbaijan must finalise its plans for the Olympic divisions, assess potential changes in weight categories and, most importantly, develop greater psychological stability within the team.
Astana confirmed the considerable potential of Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestling.
Azizli's fifth world title and Suleymanov's long-awaited triumph were among the highlights of the tournament.
Yet the next World Championships will demand a different measure of success – not simply the total number of medals won, but the results achieved specifically in Olympic weight categories.
The ultimate objective is no longer just to maintain Azerbaijan's position among the world's leading wrestling nations. It is to convert that potential into Olympic qualification places and, eventually, medals at Los Angeles 2028.
