Kyrgyz Wrestler Secures Bronze at World Wrestling Championships in Croatia

Kyrgyz wrestler Ernazar Akmataliev has claimed a bronze medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Croatia.

Competing in the 70 kg weight category, Akmataliev began his campaign on September 13 in the 1/16 finals with a win over Chile’s athlete Jorge Franco Gatica Hinricksen, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

He was then defeated by world No. 1 Yoshinosuke Aoyagi of Japan, 0:11, who advanced to the final and allowed Akmataliev a shot at bronze through the repechage bracket.

In the first round of the consolation matches, Akmataliev faced Hungary’s athlete Ismail Musukaev, who had bested him at the Paris Olympics, and secured a decisive 14:4 victory. He then defeated Armenia’s athlete Arman Andreasyan 8:2 in the bronze-medal match.

This achievement adds to Akmataliev’s accolades, following his gold medal at the 2025 Asian Freestyle Wrestling Championships.