MARCH OF TRIUMPH

It was a long time since the Azerbaijani weightlifting team had given their supporters something to cheer about. Finally, at the European Championship in Turkey last year the Azerbaijani team achieved a historic result. Then, at the summer Olympics in London, our weightlifters won their first Olympic medal. The triumphant march of the Azerbaijanis continued in Albania at the European Championship which was held at the beginning of April. Our team came home from Tirana with two gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

It is no secret that most of the team's hopes were placed on their leader, Valentin Khristov. Having broken eight records at the last Olympics, the twice European champion is also Azerbaijani's only Olympic medal (a bronze) winner. Valentin Khristov shared his impressions of the European Championship and his plans for the future in an interview for our magazine.

- First of all, congratulations on your latest victory at the European Championship. What are your impressions?

- I set out for Albania to do my best and win a gold medal and I am pleased to say that I came back to Baku as a winner. This is the outcome of months of training. The friendly atmosphere in the squad was one of the reasons for my success. I wasn't pushed particularly hard in Tirana. I was so well prepared that my rivals had no chance of beating me.

- How does it feel to be a twice European champion?

- Like any other twice European champion. It isn't easy to be the best in Europe. But my dream is to be world and Olympic champion. Of course, it is also important to be European champion. The world youth championships start in 15 days' time and if I want to do well there I must continue to train hard.

- Yes, the world and European championships are on different levels…

- I fully agree with you. The competition is higher at the world championship. At the European championship you don't get the top representatives from Asia. But the Chinese can take part in the world championship. They are reckoned to be the favourites in all the weight categories. I am confident that if I apply myself properly in training I will achieve what I set out to do. My main aim is to win a gold medal at the youth world championships.

- You broke 8 records in Albania…

- All I tried to do was lift the weights and beat my opponents - I learned about the records later. Beating records is a plus. I'll try and set up another record at the next championship. I am preparing seriously for this competition. I am planning to put in for a higher weight than my opponents.

- But as you said, the competition at the world championship will be greater…

- I know perfectly well what to expect at the world championship. All the top young lifters will be there. Since my success in Albania I expect they know a lot more about me. Some of my rivals will be working particularly hard in training before they face me. I know the championship will be tough and I am up for it. I'm not one of those soldiers who doesn't dream of becoming a general. I always set myself big goals.

- What do you think of your team mates' efforts at the European Championship?

- The Azerbaijani team did well. Our performance will stay in my memory for a long time. Intiqam Zahirov, Sardar Hasanov and Zulfuqar Suleymanov justified the hopes placed on them. I would like to mention Zulfuqar in particular. It is three years since he has performed in major competitions (he was disqualified - author's note). Being barred from competition is a big blow for an athlete both in terms of training and psychologically. But Zulfuqar did well to overcome his problems.

- The European Championship was quite a test for you. What I mean is, you went for 62kg…

- You're right. In previous competitions I went for the 56kg category. But I am not a stranger to the 62kg category. I trained at that weight for a long time. I made it clear that after the Olympics in London I would switch to a different weight category. My victory at the European Championship showed that I can also succeed at the 62kg category. The main thing is to train. If an athlete spends a lot of time training he is on the right path.

- Zulfuqar is also competing at 62kg. Who is reckoned to be the team's main representative in this category?

- It's quite normal in weight-lifting to have two athletes in the team in the same weight category. That means we can both defend the team's honour at any time. Suleymanov is a high class athlete. Neither of us is afraid of rivalry. It is just healthy competition between us. We are both trying hard for the success of the team.

- What did your fellow Bulgarians think of your success at the European Championship?

- They congratulated me. After the competition all my friends congratulated me and wished me success at future competitions. That includes the Bulgarian team.

- The Bulgarian press made a special mention of your appearing for Azerbaijan. What can you tell us abut this?

- There are some people in Bulgaria who can't come to terms with the fact that I am defending the sporting honour of Azerbaijan. But I have always said that the main thing for an athlete is to make use of the conditions. Think about it: how can I win if I don't train? In Azerbaijan they care about sport at a state level. Ideal conditions have been created for me here. I want to be successful at major competitions while I am still young. In Bulgaria they don't show the same attention to sport. After I won a bronze medal at the London Olympics they started complaining. I take huge pride in defending the honour of the Azerbaijani team.