BUDAPEST, July 20 — Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestlers added one gold and one bronze medal on the final day of the 2025 United World Wrestling Ranking Series event in Budapest, Hungary, bringing their national total to four medals at the tournament.
Competing in the 60 kg weight class, Nihat Mammadli claimed gold with a dominant run. He defeated opponents from South Korea (9:0), Uzbekistan (4:0), and Serbia (3:2) before overpowering India’s Sumit Sumit 5:1 in the final.
Meanwhile, in the 97 kg division, Murad Ahmedliyev secured bronze. He advanced past Turkey, Serbia, and Georgia in the early rounds before falling to Georgian heavyweight Giorgi Melia in the semifinals (1:5). In the bronze medal match, he overcame Russia’s Ilya Ermolenko with a score of 8:4.
Azerbaijan’s performance on the final day also featured several close contests and upsets:
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In the 63 kg category, Ziya Babashov narrowly lost 3:3 on criteria to Asia champion and World bronze medalist Islamjon Bakhramov of Uzbekistan.
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Farid Khalilov (67 kg) exited in the quarterfinals after a 1:1 loss to Georgian world champion Leri Abuladze.
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In the 77 kg class, Senan Suleymanov defeated opponents from Serbia and Moldova but fell in the semifinal and bronze medal match, finishing just shy of the podium.
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Gurban Gurbanov (82 kg) withdrew due to injury.
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Arif Niftullaev (97 kg), despite early victories, was stopped short in the repechage round by Russia’s Ermolenko.
Earlier in the tournament, Ruslan Nurullayev (72 kg) and Islam Abbasov (87 kg) captured bronze medals, completing Azerbaijan’s haul at the final ranking event of the year with one gold and three bronzes.
