Azernews.Az

The U-17 World Wrestling Championships will officially get underway today in Baku, AzerNEWS reports.

The opening day of competition will feature Greco-Roman wrestling.

Azerbaijani wrestlers Gurban Majnunov (55 kg), Orkhan Habibli (65 kg), Isfahan Hasanov (80 kg), and Emin Bakhshaliyev (110 kg) will begin their campaigns in the qualification round.

Meanwhile, Omar Salmanov, competing in the 48 kg weight category, will enter the tournament directly in the Round of 16.

The championship is being held at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku and will run through August 2.

More than 650 athletes from various countries have registered for the prestigious tournament, which will take place at the National Gymnastics Arena. In total, over 1,000 guests are expected to arrive in Azerbaijan for the championship.

The competition will begin with Greco-Roman wrestling bouts in the first days of the event. This will be followed by the women's wrestling contests. In the final days of the championship, the winners in freestyle wrestling will be determined.

Wrestling remains the most widely followed sport in Azerbaijan and is governed by the National Wrestling Federation, established in 1993.

A major turning point in the nation's wrestling legacy came at the Rio Olympic Games, where Azerbaijan distinguished itself as one of only two countries to improve its medal haul across five consecutive Olympic Games.

Azerbaijan's success continued in 2020, when its freestyle wrestlers finished third in the overall medal standings at the Individual World Cup in Serbia, capturing two medals, one silver and one bronze, behind leaders Russia and Turkiye.

Further highlighting the country's strength on the world stage, Osman Nurmagomedov claimed the 92 kg world title at the 2022 World Championships in Belgrade, overcoming a Russian rival in the final.

Most recently, Azerbaijan added to its Olympic record at the 2024 Summer Games, securing three bronze medals in wrestling. Hasrat Jafarov reached the podium in the 67 kg Greco-Roman category, while Giorgi Meshvildishvili (125 kg) and Magomedkhan Magomedov (97 kg) delivered bronze medals in freestyle wrestling.

The country has earned a reputation for successfully hosting major competitions, from European and World Championships to youth tournaments, welcoming athletes from around the globe with world-class venues and hospitality.

Cities like Baku, Ganja, and others have become key destinations for wrestling fans, showcasing Azerbaijan's ability to combine a rich sporting heritage with modern event management.