Career
Väli started training in wrestling at age 17, and four years later competed at the 1924 Olympics, but was eliminated in a preliminary bout. He missed the 1932 Olympics because Estonia did not send a team due to the Great Depression, and finished out of the podium at the 1933, 1934, 1937 and 1938 European Championships. However, he earned a bronze at the 1936 Olympics.
During World World War II in 1944 he emigrated with family to Sweden.
He ended his sporting career in 1945 after a match between the local Estonians and the team from Stockholm. Väli worked a crane operator at the Portuguese of Tallinn.