Gligor Nikolov crowned World Junior Kickboxing Champion
Nikolov won North Macedonia’s first gold in Lido di Jesolo; Kalin Baboski will fight for gold tomorrow.
Gligor Nikolov became a world champion for North Macedonia on September 25, 2026, winning the gold medal at the World Junior Kickboxing Championship in Lido di Jesolo. The young low-kick fighter sealed victory in the final against Hasan Alajarov of Azerbaijan by a 3:0 decision.
Results from the World Junior Championship
The tournament produced several strong performances from the North Macedonian team: Kalin Baboski advanced to the senior juniors final and will contest the gold medal tomorrow after a 3-0 semifinal win; Dragica Gligorova claimed a bronze earlier in the day; Tomi Andonov’s final is still pending.
Key results (Low Kick)
- Younger juniors -67 kg
- Gligor Nikolov – Muhamedibrohim Rafikzhonov (Kyrgyzstan) 3-0
- Gligor Nikolov – Joanis Apostolu (Greece) 2-1
- Semifinal: Gligor Nikolov – Kanatulu Mansur (Kazakhstan) 3-0
- Final: Gligor Nikolov – Hasan Alajarov (Azerbaijan) 3:0
- Older juniors -63.5 kg
- Kalin Baboski – Sultanmurod Raimkulov (Uzbekistan) 3-0
- Kalin Baboski – Evan Collins (Ireland) 3-0 (quarter-final)
- Semifinal: Kalin Baboski – Sabir Alibi (Kazakhstan) 3-0
- Final: Kalin Baboski – Matvi Kuijavec (Ukraine) — to be fought
In K-1, younger juniors +81 kg, Tomi Andonov won his semifinal against Ahmed Kaikenov (Kazakhstan) 3-0 and is scheduled to fight Aleksa Aleksov (Serbia) in the final.
North Macedonia celebrates its first gold from this edition of the World Junior Kickboxing Championship, while a second medal opportunity remains for Baboski in his final tomorrow in Lido di Jesolo.
Photo: press material from the event
