Azerbaijan’s freestyle wrestlers delivered strong performances at the U-23 World Championships in Novi Sad, capping the tournament with one gold and one silver medal on the final day of competition.
Heybatov Crowned World Champion
Competing in the 70 kg category, Kanan Heybatov faced Iran’s Sina Khalili in the final bout. Despite a challenging first half, the Azerbaijani wrestler mounted a decisive comeback, defeating his opponent 9–4 to claim his first-ever U-23 World Championship title.
The victory marks a milestone in Heybatov’s young career and underscores Azerbaijan’s growing strength in freestyle wrestling on the international stage.
Karsanov Takes Silver in Heavyweight Final
In the 125 kg division, Khetag Karsanov met Iran’s Abolfazl Nejad, who recently moved up to the heaviest weight class. Karsanov was unable to overcome his rival’s dominance, falling 0–11 to secure the silver medal.
The results further solidify Azerbaijan’s position as one of the top wrestling nations in the U-23 category this year, following earlier podium finishes in Greco-Roman and women’s divisions.
