The 2009 season marked a career progression: Ektov won the national title with a jump of 17 metres exactly and came sixth in a high quality international field at the 2009 Summer Universiade. He represented his country on the global stage for the first time at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, although he did not progress beyond the qualifying rounds. While fellow countryman Valiyev won at both the 2009 Asian Indoor Games and the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships, Ektov also reached the podium at both events by taking the silver medal indoors and a bronze outdoors.