The U17 World Championships, held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, concluded with Kazakhstan securing not only two world titles but also an impressive position in the overall team standings. Based on the combined results in Greco-Roman, freestyle and women’s wrestling, Team Kazakhstan collected 225 points and finished among the five strongest wrestling nations in the world.
Russia topped the overall standings with 305 points, followed by the United States with 294, India with 250 and Iran with 231. Kazakhstan placed fifth with 225 points, finishing ahead of Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Japan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye.
The result also placed Kazakhstan among the top three Asian teams. Kazakhstan finished third among the continent’s nations, behind only India and Iran, while taking first place among the countries of Central Asia.
Kazakhstan’s wrestlers won two gold, two silver and four bronze medals in Baku. Diyar Amanali (55 kg) and Bakdaulet Agabek (48 kg) were crowned world champions, while Ali Almas (48 kg) and Aisha Abdimalik (65 kg) claimed silver medals. Alinur Toleugali (71 kg), Inzhu Bakkozha (46 kg), Mardan Orynbasar (60 kg) and Adilet Rysbay (71 kg) earned bronze.
Kazakhstan’s first gold medal was delivered by Greco-Roman wrestler Diyar Amanali in the 55 kg weight category. He defeated four opponents on his way to the final, where he faced Hungary’s Keve Vazul Kovacs.
The tightly contested championship bout, in which every point carried enormous significance, ended 1–1. As Diyar had registered the first scoring action, the victory was awarded to the Kazakh wrestler on criteria.
His route to the final was equally demanding. Diyar opened the tournament with an 8–0 victory over an opponent from Greece before defeating wrestlers from Russia and Georgia by scores of 3–1 and 2–1 respectively. In the semi-final, he overcame Bulgaria’s Danimir Yordanov 8–1 to earn his place in the gold-medal bout.
Kazakhstan’s second gold medal in Baku came in freestyle wrestling. Competing in the 48 kg category, Bakdaulet Agabek contested five bouts and won every one of them.
He defeated Uzbekistan’s Farrukh Makhmudov 7–3 in the semi-final before facing India’s Aaryan in the championship bout. Bakdaulet began the final at a high pace, raced to a 10–0 lead and ended the match early by technical superiority.
This victory carries particular significance. Kazakhstan had not won a U17 freestyle world title since 2022, and Bakdaulet brought the four-year wait to an end.
His progress over the past year is equally noteworthy. After finishing fifth at the 2025 World Championships, the young wrestler moved into a new weight category, won all five of his bouts in Baku and became a world champion.
The remaining six medals also made a significant contribution to Kazakhstan’s overall team score. In Greco-Roman wrestling, Ali Almas (48 kg) won silver and Alinur Toleugali (71 kg) claimed bronze. In women’s wrestling, Aisha Abdimalik (65 kg) reached the final and earned a silver medal, while Inzhu Bakkozha (46 kg) became a world medallist for the second consecutive year. Freestyle wrestlers Mardan Orynbasar (60 kg) and Adilet Rysbay (71 kg) both secured bronze medals.
The statistics offer further perspective. A comparison with the official results of the 2025 World Championships in Athens demonstrates a clear improvement in the quality of Kazakhstan’s medal performance. Last year, the national team won one gold, two silver and seven bronze medals. In Baku, the number of world champions increased from one to two, while the number of Kazakh wrestlers reaching the finals rose from three to four.
In freestyle wrestling, last year’s three bronze medals were replaced by one gold and two bronze medals. The women’s wrestling team maintained its total of two medals, with one of them upgraded to silver. The Greco-Roman team won one gold, one silver and one bronze, securing representation in all three medal categories.
These achievements are the result of the systematic preparation of Kazakhstan’s youth national teams and the continued effort to provide athletes with the conditions they need to succeed. Before the team departed for Baku, Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation President Yerkin Okassov met with the national squad and emphasised that strengthening the preparation of young wrestlers and helping them fulfil their potential remain among the federation’s key priorities.
“The federation continues to provide consistent support to ensure the national team is properly prepared for international competitions. Ahead of the U17 World Championships, particular attention was given to training camps, medical support and the creation of all necessary conditions for the athletes.
“Behind every medal are the determination of the wrestlers, the tireless work of the coaches and a systematic preparation process. We will continue to support young athletes, create opportunities for them to develop their skills and strengthen their competitiveness on the international stage,” Yerkin Kadyrgaliuly said as he wished the wrestlers success before the tournament.
The World Championships in Baku demonstrated that Kazakhstan’s U17 national team is ready to compete at the highest level not only in individual weight categories, but also through its combined performance across all three wrestling styles.
Two gold medals, four finalists and fifth place in the overall team standings represent a tangible outcome of the work that has been carried out. The next objective is to maintain this momentum and increase the number of weight categories in which Kazakhstan can challenge for world titles.
