RESTARTING FRESH

Perhaps it was the Azerbaijani weightlifting that were hit the most during the coronavirus pandemic. It is well known that athletes making prolonged pauses in training face serious physical problems later. At the same time, it is no secret that Azerbaijani athletes have often attracted public attention due to doping scandals, with a number of renowned athletes having been banned from prestigious competitions. Neither could they win a licence for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Exclusion of athletes from the national team and pause in training have made serious reforms in weightlifting inevitable.

New management

First of all, the reporting and election conference of the Azerbaijan Federation for Weightlifting (AFW) was held. Minister of Agriculture Inam Kerimov was elected head of the federation instead of Jahangir Askerov. New leadership is primarily focused on regions. During the meeting with young athletes in Gazakh and Neftchala, AFW leadership discussed their level of preparation for competitions. Participants have also discussed the condition of sport halls for training, planned measures to improve training level, as well as the existing potential and development prospects of athletes. This was followed by a broader meeting with all coaches and athletes. Participants exchanged views on improving the training system, forming national teams, ensuring that athletes perform successfully at the Olympic Games, world and European championships and other international competitions.

They noted that weightlifting has strong traditions in Azerbaijan. Therefore, it is extremely important to expand the material and technical base of clubs to preserve and develop these traditions. AFW leadership stated the inadmissibility of using banned substances, anabolics and other medicines, hence declaring that it was preparing a set of organisational works in this direction and strengthening the fight against unsporting phenomena.

To determine the composition of the national team, the new management decided to hold men's and women's weightlifting championships in Azerbaijan. It took place in early April  2022, after a two-year break.

New faces

Women athletes were the first to compete at the Weightlifting Academy in Shuvalan, Baku. Anastasia Moum lifted in total 187kg (83+104) in biathlon and received a gold medal with Sinclair's ratio of 231.80. Second best was Nazila Ismayilova - 137kg (61+76) with 230.06 points. Bronze medallist of the championship was Elnara Abbasova with 175kg (75+100) and 214.20 points.

Among the men under 55kg, Hajiagha Mammadov scored a total of 179kg (82+97) and received the gold medal of the tournament. He was followed by Deniz Jabbarly (177kg, 80+97) and Ramiz Kerimov (165kg, 80+85).

In the 61-kg weight category, Tehran Mammadov won a gold medal with 250 kg (115+135). Rustam Gasimov (226.101+125) and Gasim Ismayilov (222.97+125) were awarded silver and bronze medals, respectively.

With a total of 270kg (125+145), Isa Rustamov became the gold medallist (67kg) of the tournament. Pasha Ibrahimli (73kg) also became a champion with a score of 297kg (135+162). Elshad Sharifov, Kamran Ismayilov, Nailkhan Nabiyev, Ali Shukurlu, Dadash Dadashbeyli and Rahman Kazimov also won gold medals in different weight categories.

Three in one

The toughest competition of the Azerbaijani championship was in the 109kg category. Thus, Dadash Dadashbeyli went down in history after updating three records of the country at once. In the snatch, he lifted 170 kg, adding 5 kg to the previous record (165 kg). In clean and jerk, Dadash lifted 203 kg, adding 1 kg to his previous record. With this, Dadash Dadashbeyli also updated Azerbaijan's record with a total of 373 kg (+6).

The second day of the championship was also attended by Youth and Sports Minister Farid Gayibov. Speaking at the awards ceremony, he wished success to athletes and noted the high organizational level of championships held after two years break in Azerbaijan. The awards were presented by Farid Gayibov, deputy minister Mariana Vasileva and AFW president Inam Kerimov.