World Wrestling Championships 2026: Malkhas Amoyan Falls as Akzhol Makhmudov Stuns Azerbaijan’s Gurbanov

The Greco-Roman competition opened in Astana with dramatic quarterfinals across four weight categories, as defending champions faced stiff challenges and Akzhol Makhmudov produced a stunning comeback to reach the 82kg semifinals.

The 2026 World Wrestling Championships began in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Saturday with four Greco-Roman weight categories — 55kg, 60kg, 77kg and 82kg — featuring several defending champions and established international medal contenders. The opening day delivered a series of high-intensity bouts, major upsets and impressive technical performances as wrestlers battled for places in the semifinals.

Among the biggest stories was the exit of defending 77kg champion Malkhas Amoyan of Armenia, who lost to Kazakhstan’s Merey Maulitkanov. Two-time world champion Akzhol Makhmudov of Kyrgyzstan also grabbed attention with a remarkable late comeback in the 82kg quarterfinals, while four-time world champion Eldaniz Azizli of Azerbaijan advanced in the 55kg category.

The results set up an intriguing semifinal stage, with several former world champions and returning medallists still in contention for the titles.

One of the most significant results of the opening session came in the 77kg category, where Kazakhstan’s Merey Maulitkanov defeated defending champion Malkhas Amoyan 4-2. The home wrestler capitalised on an opening during a par terre exchange to score a decisive throw. An additional two points were awarded following a successful review that established a leg foul by Amoyan, giving Maulitkanov a 4-1 advantage. Amoyan could add only one point in the second period as Maulitkanov secured the victory.

The result ended Amoyan’s reign at 77kg and delighted the home crowd in Astana. Maulitkanov had earlier recorded a 9-0 victory over South Korea’s Hyeonjin Kang, demonstrating his attacking ability before producing the upset against the defending champion.

Bulgaria’s Stoyan Kubatov also reached the 77kg semifinals after edging Kazakhstan’s Maulitkanov?

The 82kg quarterfinal between Kyrgyzstan’s Akzhol Makhmudov and Azerbaijan’s Gurban Gurbanov provided one of the day’s most dramatic moments.

Gurbanov raced into a 6-0 lead through a takedown, a roll and an exposure, leaving Makhmudov with a substantial deficit to overcome. The Kyrgyz wrestler responded in the second period, first scoring a takedown before producing a four-point throw with just 36 seconds remaining.

An unsuccessful challenge added another point to Makhmudov’s total, completing a stunning 7-6 comeback victory. The win keeps alive Makhmudov’s bid for a third world title. Having previously won two world championships at 77kg, he is now seeking to claim the 82kg crown after moving up in weight.

Makhmudov had also beaten Georgia’s Gela Bolkvadze 9-0 earlier in the competition. His progression makes him one of the leading contenders to watch as the tournament advances.

Azizli targets a fifth world title

At 55kg, Azerbaijan’s Eldaniz Azizli moved into the semifinals with a commanding performance against Belarusian wrestler Aleksandr Gurev. The four-time world champion used a takedown followed by three rolls to secure the victory and continue his pursuit of a fifth world title.

Azizli had earlier defeated Mongolia’s Davaabandi Munkh Erdene 9-0 in just one minute and 43 seconds. His performance in Astana suggests that he remains a serious contender in the category. However, a challenging semifinal stage awaits as the remaining wrestlers look to prevent the veteran from adding another world title to his record.

Georgia’s Vakhtang Lolua also advanced to the 55kg semifinals, defeating Russia’s Emin Sefershaev 6-2 in a quarterfinal that carried a measure of revenge. Lolua scored a four-point throw from par terre in the first period before defending his lead against Sefershaev’s attacks. The victory avenged his defeat to the Russian in the final of this year’s European Championships.

Kazakhstan’s Aidos Sultangali kept his title defence on track in the 60kg category, defeating Azerbaijan’s Murad Mammadov 4-1 in the quarterfinals. The defending champion scored from par terre in the second period to secure his place in the last four.

Sultangali had earlier survived a difficult encounter against Russia’s Anvar Allakhiarov, recovering from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 and advance. At 82kg, defending champion Gholamreza Farokhi of Iran also progressed convincingly. He defeated Moldova’s Mihail Bradu 9-0 in just two minutes and 20 seconds, stringing together four consecutive rolls and exposures after gaining the top position in par terre.

Farokhi had previously beaten Hungary’s Zoltan Levai by fall, putting himself in a strong position to continue his title defence.

Indian wrestlers face difficult opening day

India’s wrestlers experienced mixed fortunes in the opening session. Lalit lost 9-0 to Iran’s Payam Ahmadi in the 55kg quarterfinals, with the Iranian securing technical superiority through a series of powerful throws. Ahmadi, the returning silver medallist, advanced to the semifinals.

Prince also exited the 82kg competition after losing 3-1 to Serbia’s Viktor Nemes. The veteran Serbian used a chest wrap from par terre to score the decisive points in the second period. In the 77kg category, Lovepreet Singh was defeated 8-0 by Uzbekistan’s Doniyorkhon Nakibov, who scored through gut wrenches and a takedown.

The results left India facing an uphill task in the Greco-Roman events, while the competition continued to showcase the technical depth and unpredictability of international wrestling.

The opening day in Astana has already delivered a major upset, a remarkable comeback and strong performances from several defending champions. With Azizli, Sultangali, Farokhi and Makhmudov among the wrestlers advancing, the semifinal rounds promise further compelling contests. For the title contenders, the challenge now is to maintain their form and convert semifinal opportunities into places in the gold-medal bouts. 

The early results have made one thing clear: even the most decorated champions will have to work hard to leave Astana with another world title.