BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE

The Azerbaijani national junior judo team showed a brilliant result at the world championship held in Croatia on August 23-27, 2023. Therefore, we can safely assume that the World Junior Championship in Zagreb will be long remembered in the history of Azerbaijani judo.

Here is the list of medalists. Gold: Nihad Mamishov (50kg) and Khadija Gadashova (52kg); silver: Mohammed Mamishov (50kg), Mohammed Musayev (60kg), Abil Yusubov (66kg); bronze: Mirkhalig Iskenderov (55kg), Suleyman Shukurov (73kg) and Ramazan Ahmedov (+90kg).

Interestingly, the majority of Azerbaijani athletes were among the prize-winners. Our judokas were represented in seven weight categories, finishing the tournament with medals in six of them. This can also be considered a record for the Azerbaijani team.

Mamishov vs. Mamishov

Nihad Mamishov made history by earning the highest medal of the world championship for the team the first time in the last ten years. Also, for the first time at such a prestigious competition, the fans watched a totally Azerbaijani final, with two Azerbaijani athletes (both 50kg), Mohammed Mamishov and Nihad Mamishov, in the final stage of the competition. It was a truly special event.  But the bout between Mamishovs was not impressive for the techniques used by the athletes, as both the rivals knew each other well, maintaining the score at a draw a long time. As both athletes were not active in the main time, they received a shido warning. Just 8 seconds before the extra time, Nihad got a one point advantage thanks to a hold. In addition to winning gold and silver medals in the same weight category, the athletes showed everyone how strong the Azerbaijani national team was.

Khadija Gadashova's performance (52kg) deserves a special attention. Her brilliant victory at the championship was a historic achievement for Azerbaijani sport, as well as a great victory in women's judo. Given the strength of her opponent in the final, Alicia Poulange from France, Gadashova;s chances of victory were small. But the final stretched to the golden point round. Even in the decisive stage, Poulange looked more active, and the tense bout lasted 3 minutes and 13 seconds. In the end, Gadashova won a well-deserved victory with a sumi gaeshi hold.

Azerbaijani national team won the first place in the team competition. According to the results of individual competitions, Azerbaijani judokas won 8 (2-3-3) medals: silver medals in mixed team competitions for the third time in a row. This is the best result of the Azerbaijani national team both in terms of the number of medals and performance at all world championships it has participated in so far.

The most successful year

In general, 2023 was very successful for the young Azerbaijani judokas. Thus, they could maintain leadership at the European Championship, became the first in individual competitions both in terms of the number of medals and their samples. The junior national team demonstrated the same results. In addition, our athletes won gold medals of the European Championship in mixed team competitions for the first time.

Head coach of the national junior judo team Rustam Alimli has praised the results of the world championship in Croatia in his interview with R+. According to him, both the championship and 2023 were very successful for the team: "We were first in the team standings at the European Youth Olympic Festival, European Championship, as well as at the tournament in Zagreb. We are very happy to have achieved a historic result."

Rustam Alimli emphasised that the Azerbaijani team competed in Croatia with a very strong line-up: "We expected medals from all athletes. The world championship is a very strong competition. We expected at least two gold medals from the boys. But only five of our athletes made it to the final round. We hoped that Mirkhalig Iskandarov (55kg) and Abil Yusubov (66kg) would win the gold medal. But one of them came with a bronze medal, and the other won a silver one. Again, this is a good result. We haven't had such results at world cups before."

The head coach also commented on the bout between the two representatives of Azerbaijan, Nihad and Mohammed Mamishovs: "It was a very interesting bout. Nihad competed with athletes older than himself. Next year he will also try himself with junior athletes."

In conclusion, Rustam Alimli expressed confidence that the junior judokas will perform successfully at both youth and adult tournaments: "Successful athletes will demonstrate successful performance at both youth and adult tournaments. At least two of our athletes will receive medals at the 2028 Summer Olympics."