IN THE TOP-10

The Second Junior Summer Olympics held in the Chinese city of Nanjing were remembered with a new record of Azerbaijani sportsmen. If in the first Olympic Games in 2010 in Singapore, Azerbaijani sportsmen won 5 gold and 3 silver medals, in Nanjing the national team won 5 gold, 6 silver and 1 bronze medal. Thus, the R+ forecast made before the event proved true - the 19 Azerbaijani athletes who travelled to Nanjing returned home with 12 medals.

In the team event, the Azerbaijani sportsmen took 10th place. The top three teams, respectively, included China, Russia and the United States. By the number of medals the Azerbaijani national team came 14th. It must be noted that at the Junior Olympics, athletes from 87 countries managed to win medals.

As always, the wrestlers pleased us most of all. Defeating all opponents, wrestlers Teymur Mammadov (63 kg) and Iqbal Hacizada (100 kg) went on top of the podium. In Greco-Roman wrestling, Islambek Dudov (69 kg), who gained four consecutive victories, became an Olympic champion. Losing only in the finals, Cabbar Nacafov (50 kg) and Leyla Qurbanova (52 kg) contented themselves with silver medals. Thus, all five wrestlers who went to the Olympics won medals, which confirms the high level of wrestling in Azerbaijan.

It must be especially noted that during the games held by our Olympic champions, their opponents managed to earn only 1 point! Islambek Dudov concluded his games with a total score of 13:0, Teymur Mammadov - 39:0 and Iqbal Hacizada - 31:1. Teymur Mammadov went on the highest step of the podium in all reputable competitions, in which he took part this year. So, during this season Mammadov won the European and World Championships and now the Olympics.

In boxing contests, Rufat Huseynov did not disappoint us. Performing in the weight category of 49 kg, he reached the final with two wins in a row. Beating the Uzbek boxer Suleyman Latipov in the final, Rufat became the first Azerbaijani boxer, who won the gold medal of the Junior Olympics. Four years ago boxers returned from Singapore with two silver medals. The performance of Rufat Huseynov will provide an impetus to his involvement in the youth team.

Azerbaijani taekwondo wrestlers found themselves among the winners for the first time. In China, Said Quliyev (73 kg) won the gold while Ceren Ozbek (44 kg) won the silver medal. Said beat all his rivals with swift kicks. Most people believe that from next year it will be possible to test Said in the youth team.

The bitterness of defeat in the final bouts was experienced by wrestlers Leyla Aliyeva (44 kg) and Natiq Qurbanli (55 kg). Yielding to strong opponents, they contented themselves with silver medals.

Athlete Nazim Babayev gained a bronze medal for the Azerbaijani team in competitions in the triple jump for the first time. Although the European Championship winner was close to the silver medal, he had to settle for third place in the end. This result of Nazim, who has great potential and shows better results in training, is due to his inexperience. He needs to take part in a number of solid competitions during the year. Only in this case, will Babayev be able to gain experience and achieve higher results in the future.

Boris Yotov came second in rowing. Everyone was waiting for the gold medal from this athlete who had set several records at the World Junior Championships. However, at the last moment he came only second to the finish line.

The 12 medals won at the Summer Junior Olympic Games indicate the development of wrestling, judo, taekwondo, rowing and boxing in the country. Improving results compared with previous games, the Olympians justified the image of Azerbaijan as a sports country. Of course, after a couple of years, most of the athletes who have been successful will be invited to the youth team and will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills at a higher level. The Olympic Games in Nanjing became a forge of experience for juniors and the beginning of a new stage in their sports careers, in which coaches will assess their chances in youth competitions.

AT FIRST HAND

"I'm very happy. I dreamed of medals from the very beginning of the competition. Successfully reaching the final, I started thinking only about becoming a champion. The coach told me to fight to the very end and never give up. In the decisive bout, I really wanted to win. Maybe that's why I had absolutely no fear of the rival. I'm glad that I won the gold medal for Azerbaijan. This is the biggest success in my sports career. I will strive to live up to expectations in the next tournaments". 

Said QULIYEV, Olympic champion in taekwondo

"I took part in the biggest competition in my career. I promised to return from China with a medal. I'm happy that I became an Olympic champion. Of course, I'd like to become a champion among adults in the future. I thank my coaches. We've been preparing for this competition since the beginning of the year. Our work was not in vain. I think in China, all our athletes adequately defended the sports honour of our country". 

Rufat Huseynov, Olympic boxing champion