TAEKWONDO ON THE RISE

The World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships held for national teams in Mexico City became a scene of triumph for the Azerbaijani squad. In this competition organized by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), the Azerbaijan men's team comprised of Mahammad Mammadov, Ayxan Tagizada, Sina Bahrami, Said Quliyev, Milad Beigi Harchegani and Radik Isayev won the World Cup for the first time and became the world's strongest team. 

The trainees of head coach Reza Mehmandoust and senior coach Elnur Amanov fought their first match against the national team of Belgium. The Azerbaijani team won 57-31. In their next match, they left no chances to the Uzbek team (31-11). Azerbaijan's fighters relaxed in their last "dead rubber" match in the group stage against Iran and lost 22-31. 

In the semi-finals, the Azerbaijani squad defeated South Korea 48-30 and got into the final where Iran's strong team was awaiting them. In their final match, the Azerbaijan squad avenged their loss in the group stage by winning a confident victory 42-23 and the World Cup. The national teams of South Korea and Russia won bronze. At the end of this prestigious competition, the Azeri national team's head coach Reza Mehmandoust won the Best Male Coach award and Milad Beigi Harchegani gained the MVP [Most Valuable Player] honours. 

The victory at the World Cup contending with the strongest taekwondo fighters is the logical result of the work done within a short term by its head coach - Iranian specialist Reza Meh-mandoust. Having great experience, Mehmandoust managed to make the Azerbaijan team achieve maximum result in the final match, even after losing to Iran's national team in the group stage. From this angle, one can view the group stage loss as the coach's tactical move. 

In his interview to R+, Reza Mehmandoust expressed satisfaction at the Azerbaijani team's performance, adding that he had not doubted that they would win. "The last few years have seen a rise in taekwondo in Azerbaijan. In 2015, our athletes showed high results at a number of competitions. Radik Isayev won a gold medal at the world championship. We also fought honourably at the First European Games in Baku. Now we have stepped on to the top tier of the podium at the World Cup. The world's strongest teams took part in the competitions in Mexico. Today, Iran's national team consists of the world's strongest taekwondo fighters. Defeating such an opponent is a great success. I am satisfied with each individual member of our national team. As a team, we also demonstrated excellent fighting," Reza Mehmandoust said.

The head coach of the Azerbaijan national team is not going to rest content with the achieved results. The Iranian specialist holds the opinion that, next year, all attention will focus on the Summer Olympics in Rio: "As of today, only Radik Isayev has won his licence for the Games. From 2016 onward, he must start training according to a special programme. Qualifying tournaments have been scheduled for next year. We hope to win as many licences as possible. My main goal as a coach is to achieve success at the Olympics. I know that there are no Olympic medals in the collection of Azerbaijani taekwondo fighters yet. This is why it is necessary to go to Rio after training to top standards. Our achievements make our rivals train for matches with us more seriously," Reza Mehmandoust said. 

Reza Mehmandoust is certain that Radik Isayev showing such high results at such a young age will achieve the greatest success in his sports career at the Olympics. "There is no need to speak about Radik separately. In 2015, the athlete entered into a new stage. Alongside his titles as Europe and World champion, he won the World Cup with the national team. We are pinning our best hopes for the coming Olympics precisely on him. Isayev should continue working on himself. Only in that case will he be able to make his fans happy with his new wins," Reza Mehmandoust said. 

In his interview to R+, Vice-President of Azerbaijan Taekwondo Federation Nagi Safarov described 2015 as the most successful season in the history of our national team: "2015 has become the most successful year for Azerbaijani taekwondo. This year, we have achieved major victories over the past 15 years. For the first time, an Azerbaijani taekwondo fighter has become a world champion. Our taekwondo fighters also won a gold medal at the First European games held in Baku in June. Lastly, at the World Cup in Mexico, Azerbaijan's national team proved to be the strongest in the world: it took the first place winning brilliant victories over the national teams of the Republic of Korea and Iran regarded as leaders in this sport. Radik Isayev has won his licence for the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil and this makes our joy even greater. Now our team's goal is to perform successfully in Rio," Nagi Safarov said.

Radik Isayev, a candidate for Azerbaijan's Best Sportsman of 2015 title, has said that he will be preparing for the Olympics with special zeal. According to him, he has already forgotten about his achievements and is looking forward to the biggest events on the planet. Taekwondo is getting increasingly competitive in the world, Isayev said, adding that he is ready to fight with any opponent. 

Members of Azerbaijan's national taekwondo team brought home the World Cup and have been given 10 days to rest. Then the athletes will gather for their next training camp. Having no big events on the calendar until the end of the year, the training will consist of easy exercises.