Aibek Aitbekov Won Gold at U23 Wrestling Championships
The Kazakh wrestler secured the men's 60kg Greco-Roman title this October in Las Vegas.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Wrestling
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Local wrestling fans saw Aibek Aitbekov claim the gold medal in the men's 60kg Greco-Roman division at the U23 World Wrestling Championships. The competition concluded this month with Aitbekov emerging as the tournament champion.
Why it matters
The championship brought elite international Greco-Roman athletes to the valley to compete for global titles. It highlights the city's ongoing role as a host for major international sporting events.
Aibek Aitbekov secured his victory in the 60kg weight class with a final match score of 13-4. Tournament results for the remaining weight classes have not been publicized.
The players
Aibek Aitbekov
The gold medalist from Kazakhstan who won the men's 60kg Greco-Roman event.
Elmir Aliyev
The wrestler from Azerbaijan who finished as the runner-up in the final match.
Yevhen Pokovba
The athlete from Ukraine who competed against Aitbekov in the semifinals.
The details
Aibek Aitbekov reached the final round after defeating Yevhen Pokovba in the semifinals. He then outperformed Elmir Aliyev in the gold medal match to seal his tournament win. The championship event took place here in Las Vegas throughout October.
Timeline
October 2026
Beyond the Strip
This event continues the city's established pattern of hosting high-profile international wrestling tournaments following the success of the 2024 U23 World Wrestling Championships. It builds on the valley's recent history of attracting global amateur wrestling federations to local arenas.
The competition concluded this month, wrapping up activities for local event attendees. No further public matches are scheduled as part of this tournament.
The takeaway
Aibek Aitbekov demonstrated superior technical performance in the 60kg division to secure his gold medal. Followers of the sport should keep an eye on upcoming U23 international rankings as they update later this year.
Further reading
For more information on upcoming amateur and professional matches in the valley, visit our Wrestling section.
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