Baku, September 28, 2025
The III CIS Games in Azerbaijan delivered another full day of sporting drama, with new champions crowned in the pool and the boxing tournament line-up officially revealed.
Swimming: Russia and Belarus Dominate, Azerbaijan on the Podium
At the Ganja Sports Palace, swimming events opened with strong performances from Russian and Belarusian athletes. In the women’s 800m freestyle, Russia’s Anastasia Chernysheva took gold ahead of teammate Valeria Braznichenko and Belarus’s Ksenia Mastovich. Azerbaijan’s Anastasia Gnussina finished just outside the medals in fourth.
Belarus celebrated a title through Usevalad Sarakavik, who stormed to victory in the women’s 100m breaststroke. Russia’s Ilya Lamshanov and compatriot Kirill Varenchuk claimed silver and bronze. Azerbaijani swimmers Yegor Maynitsky and Amirhossein Gyanjakh finished seventh and eighth.
Russia’s Maria Lakovleva added another gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke, while Belarus’s Valeria Shulko and Bazena Pivash rounded out the podium.
For Azerbaijan, there was cause for celebration when Yegor Maynitsky secured bronze in the men’s 200m individual medley, behind Lamshanov and Belarus’s Maxim Malushka. Another Azerbaijani, Suleyman Ismailzade, captured silver in the men’s 1500m freestyle, finishing between Russian swimmers Alexander Filipets (gold) and Bogdan Toropkin (bronze).
In the women’s backstroke, Russia’s Anastasia Kobzar won gold, followed by Kazakhstan’s Margarita Zaitseva and Margarita Raenka.
Russia later claimed gold in the 4x100m mixed relay, ahead of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan finished just shy of the podium in fourth.
Boxing: Azerbaijan’s Squad Ready for Action
Meanwhile, in Yevlakh, attention shifted to the ring as the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation confirmed the national team roster for the Games. A total of 37 Azerbaijani boxers will compete under head coaches Vagif Kazimov (men) and Ilkin Agayev (women).
The men’s line-up covers all weight categories from 46 kg to heavyweight, including fighters such as Gurdash Rahimov, Ali Rusanov, Shahin Aslanov, and Ismail Veliev. On the women’s side, standouts include Aysel Farajova, Aylin Nazarova, and Fidan Bakarova.
The tournament, running from September 29 to October 5, will feature 161 boxers from eight CIS countries. Finals for the women are set for October 4, with men’s gold-medal bouts on October 5. The competition will be supervised by Emil Gurbanaliev, with Anar Babanli serving as chief referee.
Tennis: Azerbaijan in the Final
There was also success on the table tennis court, as the Azerbaijani duo Adil Ahmedzade and Onur Guluzade defeated Belarus 3–0 to advance to the finals of the boys’ doubles event. The table tennis tournament concludes on September 29.
