Magomedkhan Magomedov (97 kg), bronze medalist of the 2024 Paris Olympics in freestyle wrestling, was not included in the preliminary squad of the Azerbaijani national team for the European Championship, which will be held in Tirana, the capital of Albania, on April 20–26.
Idman.Biz reports with reference to foreign media that the United World Wrestling (UWW) has announced the preliminary lists of national teams that will participate in the upcoming continental competition.
It is noteworthy that Olympic medalist Magomedkhan Magomedov (97 kg) is not in the squad of the Azerbaijani freestyle wrestling team. The experienced wrestler was injured at the rating tournament held in Tirana from February 25 to March 1, and it is likely that due to the severity of his injury, he was unable to fully recover before the main start of the first half of the year.
In addition, Ali Tsokayev (92 kg) has been included in the adult team. He recently became the European champion among youth at a competition held in Serbia. Osman Nurmagomedov, who competes in the 92 kg weight category, will increase his weight and compete in the Olympic weight category of 97 kg after Magomedov's absence.
There have been no significant changes in the squad of freestyle wrestlers in other weights, and the preliminary list of the team is as follows:
Islam Bazarqanov (57 kg), Nureddin Novruzov (61 kg), Rashid Babazade (65 kg), Kenan Heybatov (70 kg), Turan Bayramov (74 kg), Jabrail Hajiyev (79 kg), Arseniy Djioyev (86 kg), Ali Tsokayev (92 kg), Osman Nurmagomedov (97 kg), Giorgi Meshvildishvili (125 kg).
There are no unexpected changes in the preliminary squad of the Azerbaijani national team in Greco-Roman wrestling either. Wrestlers who are leaders in their weights and are currently in the best shape have been included in the squad. In particular, Nihat Mammadli (60 kg) and Ziya Babashov (63 kg), the winners of the last rating tournament held in Tirana, should be noted. In addition, Hasrat Jafarov (67 kg), the bronze medalist of the Paris Olympics and one of the leaders of the team, will also go to Albania. However, another titled wrestler, Ulvi Ganizade (72 kg), will miss the European Championship as he is undergoing a recovery process after surgery in February.
The preliminary list of the team in "Classics" is as follows:
Rashad Mammadov (55 kg), Nihat Mammadli (60 kg), Ziya Babashov (63 kg), Hasrat Jafarov (67 kg), Ruslan Nurullayev (72 kg), Sanan Suleymanov (77 kg), Gurban Gurbanov (82 kg), Islam Abbasov (87 kg), Murad Ahmadov (97 kg), Beka Kandelaki (130 kg).
It should be noted that the UWW's preliminary squad lists for women's wrestling have not yet been announced. In addition, national teams can make changes to the lists they submit for the continental championship.