EXCELLENT RESULT

Paris hosted the Summer Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8, traditionally held after the Olympics. The Azerbaijani team concluded the competition with a total of 11 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze). 

Special Para-athletics

The Azerbaijani team featured remarkable athletes at this prestigious event. Imamaddin Khalilov (para-taekwondo, 70kg), Said Najafzade (T12, long jump), and Orkhan Aslanov (T13, long jump) secured gold medals. Lamiya Velieva earned gold (100m) and silver (400m) medals, while para-swimmer Raman Saleh won a silver (100m backstroke) and two bronze (100m freestyle and butterfly) medals. Taekwondoka Sabir Zeynalov (58kg), swimmer Veli Israfilov (100m breaststroke), and judoka Ilham Zakiyev (+90kg) each claimed bronze medals. In the final rankings, Azerbaijan's team placed 28th among 169 countries.

Among the sports, para-athletics stood out, with Azerbaijani representatives achieving three golds and one silver. Team leader Lamiya Velieva, a multiple world champion, secured one gold and one silver medal in Paris. She finished second in the 400m and set a world record in the 100 m event.

However, the fact that Olukhan Musaev, the gold medallist from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, returned without a medal in Paris should be regarded as a disappointment.

Our para-taekwondo athletes showcased their best performances in the French capital, with world champion Imamaddin Khalilov standing atop the podium. Nineteen-year-old Sabir Zeynalov achieved third place in the largest competition of his career.

The hopes of coaches in para-judo were realized by living legend Ilham Zakiyev. The 44-year-old two-time Paralympic champion triumphed in the bronze medal fight despite an injury. This award marked Zakiyev’s fifth on such tournaments. Unfortunately, judokas Dursadaf Kerimova and Khatira Ismiyeva did not make it to the medallists' list. It is worth noting that due to new medical assessment rules, four winners from the Tokyo Paralympics representing Azerbaijan were unable to compete in Paris.

Comments from the Winners

Gold and silver medallist of the 2024 Summer Paralympics Lamiya Velieva shared her impressions with journalists: “I am very happy to have repeated my result from Tokyo. It is hard to express my feelings in words. I am grateful to everyone for their support. Their belief motivated us. This is not the end. The success achieved further inspires me. I will strive to improve my results at the next Olympics.”

Ilham Zakiyev, who participated in the Games for the sixth time in his career, mentioned that he was battling an injury: “I underwent treatment for a long time due to this issue; therefore, I couldn’t prepare as well as I wanted. Nevertheless, I am very happy to return home with a bronze medal. During my first match against my French opponent, I felt a bias from the judges. I dedicate my success to my homeland and my people. The fact that I am 44 years old does not affect my training at all. I plan to participate in the 2028 Paralympics if my health permits.”

Said Najafzade, who took first place in the long jump, expressed his happiness: “I won my first gold medal at the Paralympic Games. This was my second Games. At my first in Tokyo, I earned a bronze medal. Now I was able to replace it with gold. I am very happy.”

An Interesting Story

The best achievement of Azerbaijan's Paralympic team was during the Tokyo competition when our athletes set a record by winning 14 golds, 1 silver, and 4 bronzes. In Paris, there was a clear need for new talent within the team. Now it is crucial to develop a special program to expand the Paralympic movement before the next Games, which will occur in four years.

It is important to recall that the Paralympics are traditionally held after the Olympic Games. This international sporting event featuring athletes with physical disabilities holds significant importance worldwide. The Games promote inclusivity in sports and create a unique platform for showcasing the skills of individuals with physical challenges.

The origins of the Paralympic Games trace back to World War II when neurosurgeon Sir Ludwig Guttmann, working at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England, incorporated exercise into treatment to accelerate the physical and psychological rehabilitation of war veterans with spinal injuries. He believed that sport would help these veterans regain confidence and re-engage as active members of society. In 1948, Guttmann organised the first Stoke Mandeville Games, exclusively for veterans with spinal injuries. The Games rapidly evolved, leading to the first official Paralympic Games held in Rome in 1960.