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Azerbaijani athletes continue to prepare for the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. In Paralympic judo, every citizen of the country places high hopes on Ilham Zakiyev. The two-time champion and winner of all judo titles did not join licencing competitions in Baku due to injury. We met with the famous athlete and asked him about the training process, as well as the latest developments in judo.

"Baku hosted a licencing tournament just before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Was your absence from the tournament only due to an injury?"

"My coaches did not recommend me joining the tournament due to my ongoing recovery process. There will be other licencing competitions ahead. That' why we decided to prepare for the ones to be held in Japan at the end of the year."

"But due to your absence in the Baku tournament, your position in the world ranking has changed..."

"That's right. Before the Baku tournament, I was number one in the rating list. I did not take part in this competition, while my opponents increased their number of points. Now I am the fourth. According to regulations, a judoka from each country in the top ten gets a licence for the Paralympic Games. I am sure that my chances of going to Paris are still high. I will increase my licence score by joining the Tokyo Grand Prix in December."

"The Paralympic Games introduced new rules. What do you think about them?"

"This is the right decision. A number of well-known athletes, including myself, have repeatedly appealed to the President of the International Judo Federation, Marius Wieser. I am completely blind, but I had to compete with athletes with relatively impaired vision. Each defeat was making me very nervous. As of today, I have taken part in five Paralympic Games. Before the new rules, judokas could perform under these three categories from B1 to B3, depending on the quality of athlete's vision. At all competitions my rivals were from category B2. As expected, it was very difficult for me. Over the years, we appealed to certain bodies to solve the problem. Other sports have a separate category for the totally blind athletes. Fortunately, the problem was resolved. According to new rules, competitions will be held in the J1 and J2 categories. That is, J1 and J2 for completely and partially blind athletes, respectively. So I will now compete in the J1 category. These rules are in line with the principle of fairplay."

"Paris can be your sixth Paralympic Games. You currently hold every possible title. What will be your main goal in France?"

"I've been to five Paralympic Games. I became the third in the last one held in Tokyo. I was among the medallists at the other four. I was awarded gold and bronze medals twice each. Currently, my biggest dream is to win the Paralympic Games for the third time. I would like to bring one more innovation to the history of national sport. My previous success is a thing of the past. To conquer the Olympus again, one needs to train hard and persistently. After I receive my licence, I will prepare for the Paralympic Games under a special programme."

"Which of our judokas can qualify for the Paralympic Games?"

"I don't want to name them, but I am expecting six more licences from them. I am confident that our Paralympic team, as always, will represent Azerbaijan honourably at prestigious competitions."

"You launched a project to involve veterans of the Garabagh war in the Paralympic movement. Is there any progress?"

"Indeed, our veterans join specific sport according to the selection criteria. It will not be difficult to train them, as their fighting spirit is enough. There is a special department as well. We are ready to assist our veterans in their adaptation to the society, as well as social and psychological rehabilitation. We help everyone who applies to us. We provide information about the Paralympic movement and help our veterans get into the sport they are interested in.

"We see the development of the Paralympic movement in Azerbaijan. After the 44-day Patriotic War, we have repeatedly had meetings with our veterans. I personally urged them to apply to the National Paralympic Committee so that we could classify them accordingly based on their their disability. Professional coaches are working with them as well. Our veterans hoisted the tricolour flag of Azerbaijan in Gubadli, Zangilan and other regions of Azerbaijan. Now let them raise the same flag in international arenas to honour Azerbaijan again."