Eldaniz Azizli aims to end career with fifth world title

Four-time Greco-Roman wrestling world champion Eldaniz Azizli intends to end his sporting career after the World Championships in Astana. The 34-year-old wrestler said this in a statement to United World Wrestling (UWW).

Azizli said he wants to retire from professional sport after winning his fifth world title. He advanced to the final in the 55kg category after defeating Georgia’s Vakhtang Lolua, the reigning world champion, 5-1 in the semifinals, securing at least a silver medal.

Azizli’s opponent in the final, scheduled for October 25, will be Iran’s Payam Ahmadi. Ahmadi defeated Azizli in the semifinals of last year’s World Championships, while the Azerbaijani wrestler finished the tournament with a bronze medal. The upcoming bout will give Azizli a chance to avenge that loss and end his career with a fifth world title.

Azizli won world championships in 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Context

The preliminary-round opponents have been determined for Azerbaijan’s national team members competing on the opening day of the World Championships in Astana on October 23. Eldaniz Azizli (55kg) was one of four wrestlers who received a bye in the preliminary round.