NEW RECORD

The 36th World Military Wrestling Championship noted for the dominance of Azerbaijani wrestlers ended in Baku on December 2. The tournament gathered 222 athletes from 18 countries and brought 21 medals (11 gold, 3 silver, 7 bronze) to the Azerbaijani national team. The Azerbaijani men's team showed the highest result, taking first place in freestyle wrestling.  The national team became the second best in Greco-Roman and women's wrestling.

Brilliant performance after failure

Competitions in Baku were of utmost importance for some members of the national team. In September, freestyle wrestlers who failed at the world championship showed a brilliant result at the military cup. Thus, the performance of Turan Bayramov and Haji Aliyev was observed with great interest. Both achieved the maximum result and justified the trust of coaches.

At the same time, the defeat of the winner of the last European championship Aliabbas Rzazade (57kg) is subject to serious analysis. His defeat in the world cup in freestyle wrestling, plus inability to secure any awards in Baku should alarm the coaching staff. Gold medals of Ali Rahimzade (65kg), Orkhan Abbasov (79kg) and Ibrahim Yusubov (92kg) will undoubtedly lead to increased competition in these weight categories.

At the Baku Championship the main Greco-Roman wrestling squad was given a chance to have some rest, thus allowing the members of the youth team to prove themselves. The most experienced wrestlers in the team were European champion Ulvi Ganizade (72kg) and Azad Aliyev (82kg). Ghanizade and Aliyev became the first and the third, respectively. Nihad Guluzade (60kg), Ziya Babashov (63kg) and Murad Ahmadiyev (97kg) also reached the top step of the podium. Farid Sadikhly (55kg) was awarded a bronze medal.

There was no special competition among the women. All our women wrestlers have become prize-winners. Zhala Aliyeva (67kg) and Ruzanna Mammadova (59kg) became champions. Elnura Mammadova (50 kg) lost in the final and won the silver award. Gultekin Shirinova (53kg), Nargiz Samadova (50kg) and Birgul Soltanova (62kg) won bronze medals.

This success would not be possible without the great contribution of the coaching staff. Great wrestlers of the past years Jabrayil Hasanov, Hasan Aliyev and Toghrul Askerov demonstrated a high level of coaching skills.

For the first time in the last two years, Russian and Iranian wrestlers also performed at the World Military Championship. So the success achieved among such a serious group of participants is an incentive for the Azerbaijani wrestlers who demonstrated a very good performance in all three types of wrestling.

Eyewitnesses of success

Haji Aliyev, world champion in the 70kg weight category, thanked everyone who supported him in his interview with R+: "This is yet another medal and wonderful achievement in my arsenal. I thank everyone who supported this competition, and first of all to the Head of the State Border Guard Service, Colonel General Elchin Guliyev. I also thank President Ilham Aliyev for the conditions created for our sport and athletes. This victory goes to our fallen soldiers and officers. I did not perform well at the world cup in Belgrade. This time I finished the year with a good result. I have the highest expectations for 2024. First I have to get a licence for the Olympic Games in Paris, and then successfully compete in the most prestigious competition on the planet".

Dirk Schwede, Vice President of the International Military Sports Council for Europe, praised the organisation of the 36th world cup as exemplary. He noted the excellent conditions created for all the participating teams: "I express my gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan, as well as the State Border Guard Service for organising the championship. Organisation of such events unites our nations. At the championship, athletes showed all their skills. We witnessed an interesting competition. I am sure that there was both friendship and competition. I believe that the guests were as pleased with the organisation as we were."