JUDO COMING OUT OF CRISIS

Judo is one of the favorite sports in Azerbaijan, as national athletes have repeatedly delighted their fans. In the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Azerbaijani judoka won one gold and one bronze medal. This triggered a massive surge of public interest in judo. Five years later Azerbaijan acquired its first world champion in judo - Elxan Mammadov.

After that, however, the leadership of the federation failed to provide athletes with the necessary conditions for training and even to ensure their participation in prestigious competitions. As a result, Azerbaijan was not represented in a number of important tournaments, which deprived the judoka of the opportunity to score license points. Members of the youth and junior teams joined competitions at their own expense.

As a result, the president of the Federation, Fuzuli Alakbarov, had to leave his post earlier than planned. The extraordinary conference of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation (AJF) elected SOCAR President Rovnaq Abdullayev as its president. Also elected were vice-presidents and the secretary-general of the Federation, as well as a 12-people board. Along with the president of the federation, Rovnaq Abdullayev, vice-presidents Sadiq Sadiqov and Mikayil Ismayilov, the board includes Olympic champion Elnur Mammadli, secretary-general Elmar Babanli, as well as Cabrayil Cabrayilov, coach Agayar Axundzada, Olympic champion Nazim Huseynov, Rasim Muradov, Rafiq Abbasov, Cabrayil Hasanov and Movlud Miraliyev. The position of vice-president for sport will be held by Sadiq Sadiqov.

Immediately after election, the new leadership met with the athletes and coaches. It was stated that all athletes will be provided with the opportunity to prepare for and participate in all calendar events.

The main goal of the new leadership is, first of all, to enable the preparation of athletes for license-winning competitions. We already know that the Azerbaijani judo team will not be represented in the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year as extensively as it was in the 2012 Games in London. Eight Azerbaijani judokas competed in the last Olympics, whereas now, according to the rating points, only four athletes have the chance of going to Rio.

According to R+, the AJF is currently looking for a coach for the national team. The new leadership is not impressed with the performance of Haciaga Haciahmadov and is now eying the prospect of hiring the former head coach, Peter Seisenbacher. If talks end successfully, Seisenbacher will take up his old team by the end of the month. It was under his leadership that Elxan Mammadov became world champion.

The new AJF president, Rovnaq Abdullayev, has told R+ that it would not be too difficult for him to work in this area. "Judo is not alien to me. We have been supporting the "Neftci" sports club for a long time. Most of the country's successful judokas and their coaches are members of our society. We know them personally. But on the other hand, there is very little time left for the Summer Olympics. All our attention will be focused on the preparation of judokas now. We want to do well in the Olympics."

Although Rovnaq Abdullayev confirmed the search for a new national team coach, he declined to specify a name. "The appointment of a new head coach is not top of our agenda. A new appointment may take place. Discussions are under way to further strengthen the national team. We may invite a foreign coach. This decision will be made after discussions with board members, as well as consultations with coaches. All decisions will be made collectively. The athletes will be provided with all necessary conditions. In return, we will require a result. In addition, successful athletes will be rewarded by the Federation."

Olympic champion Elnur Mammadli has also expressed his opinion on changes in the AJF. "Rovnaq Abdullayev is a person close to the sport, including judo. He has always been close to our athletes. I am a member of the "Neftci" club myself and I represented it when I became Olympic champion. I believe that our judokas will enjoy even better conditions now. There is very little time left for Summer Olympic Games. We have to prepare as best as possible and try to increase the number of licenses."

The new AJF leadership also intends to resolve the issue of its own base which is currently not available. At different times the federation rented space in different places of Baku. Now, this will come to an end. The construction of a new base is on the agenda. Until then, the AJF will be located in one of the offices of the Olympic Stadium.