A FIRST GOLD

As happens every year, the last competition in the wrestling year of 2014 was the Azerbaijani Championships. Practically all the top wrestlers were there, except for Olympic champions Togrul Asgarov and Sarif Sarifov, who both had a period of rehabilitation and so the Azerbaijani Wrestling Federation allowed them to take a break.

The freestyle tournament was, as usual, keenly fought. Champion in the 57kg category was Yasar Aliyev who, for the first time in his career, took the top tier of the podium by beating Mircalal Hasanzada in the final. Etibar Haciyev and Mahmoud Maqomedov took the bronze. Both wrestlers were praised by the coaches for their high skill.

Calal Suleymanov won gold in the 61kg category by beating Ruhlan Mammadov in the final. He also became the country's new champion in this category. Ahmadnabi Gvarzatilov, for whom there were high hopes, had to be satisfied with a bronze.

Maqomed Muslimov experienced the joy of victory in the 65kg category, beating Agahuseyn Mustafayev in the final and proving that he is the strongest in this category. He also won his first gold in the Azerbaijani championships.

Ruslan Dibirhaciyev continues to dominate in the 70kg category. Although his final bout with Murad Suleymanov ended in a draw, European champion Dibirhaciyev was declared the winner after taking the final point. The bronze medals in this weight went to Hacimurad Omarov and Kaman Yunusov.

Two experienced wrestlers - Asraf Aliyev and Cabrayil Hasanov - fought in the final of the 74kg category. Because both are members of the national team it was a bit of a needle match. Cabrail Hasanov triumphed, once again demonstrating leadership qualities. Mircafar Murtuzlu and Kanan Aliyev took the bronze medals.

The heavier weight categories went as expected. Alexander Gostiyev won the 86kg weight after a more-or-less equal bout with Maqomedhasan Xatiyev. Ibrahim Yusifov and Hazmat Osmanov took the bronze.

The captain of the national team, Xetaq Qazyumov once again proved that he has no equal in the 97kg category. After beating Nurmaqomed Haciyev 6-0 in the final, the European and world champion added another top-class medal to his collection. A bronze medal was a great success for Elcan Usubov. But Aslanbek Alborov disappointed with a poor display, even in the battle for the bronze which he achieved only because his opponent suffered an injury.

In the heaviest weight category success went to Camaladdin Maqomed who won all his bouts up to the final without any problem. And he was able to take the gold without even fighting - his final opponent Said Hamidov sustained an injury and had to withdraw.

Our award-winning wrestlers in the Greco-Roman also justified the hopes of the coaching staff. Elman Muxtarov, who was outstanding in all his bouts, won his first gold in the 59kg weight. He faced Murad Mammadov, who took the silver, in the final.

Hasan Aliyev triumphed in the 66kg category. Beating Ruhin Mikailov 2-0 in the final, he consolidated his place in the national team even more. The bronze medals in this category went to Kamran Mammadov and Azad Aliyev.

Rustam Aliyev outstripped all his opponents in the 71kg category. His 8-0 victory in the final over Ceyhun Aliyev was testimony to his deserved victory in this category.

The winners of five more weight categories were revealed on the final day of the championships. Having won four victories in a row, Niyamaddin Ibrahimov, who beat Samran Nasibov 9-0 in the decisive bout, reached the final in the 75-kg weight.

European championship winner Elvin Mursaliyev experienced the joy of victory in the 80kg category. In the final he faced European champion Rafiq Huseynov. It was a close bout and ended 2-2. Mursaliyev was declared the winner after claiming the final point. The bronze medals went to Emil Hamidov and Emin Ahmadov.

The young but talented pupil of the Azerbaijani school of wrestling, Islam Abbasov, who won his first gold of the Azerbaijani championship for adults, was the deserving winner in the 82kg weight. By beating Sahriyar Mammadov 5-0 in the final, the world and European youth champion proved that he is ready to compete in adult championships. Turman Eyubov was Azerbaijani champion in the 98kg category and Sabash Shariati in the 130kg. They both also entered their names in the list of the country's champions for the first time. 

The Azerbaijani women's championships were not held because there were not enough athletes.

One should emphasize the fact that capacity crowds attended the Sarhadci sports centre over the three days. All this confirms that wrestling is a favourite sport in our country and one of the few sports that pays its way. So, this tournament produced seven new young champions who in the future could become a worthy replacement for the galaxy of Azerbaijani wrestlers.

2014 was another successful year for the Azerbaijani Wrestling Federation. The country's national teams achieved top results at international tournaments and championships. Overall, Azerbaijani's wrestlers won 104 gold, 81 silver and 111 bronze medals over the year. In winning 13 gold, 9 silver and 6 bronze medals at the II Junior Olympic Games, our juniors demonstrated that the future of this sport in Azerbaijan is in safe hands. Our young wrestlers' performance in official competitions is also worthy of the highest praise. In winning 10 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals in European and world championships, they carried on from last year's success. Their achievement in winning double the number of gold medals is worthy of special attention. The record of the country's main teams in world and European championships this year is 4 gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Besides this, at international tournaments including the final of the now traditional international "Gold Grand Prix" tournament in memory of our national leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijani national teams have won 229 medals (75 gold, 59 silver and 95 bronze).

In summing up the year the AWF named the top wrestlers of 2014 as follows: Haci Aliyev (world and European champion among adults), Islam Abbasov (world and European youth champion) and Sabir Aliyev (world youth champion). Sadi Quliyev, who officiated at the Olympic junior games, was elected Referee of the Year. The federation named Asgarxan Novruzov (chief coach of the youth freestyle wrestling team) and Shaban Donat (chief coach of the Greco-Roman youth team) as Coaches of the Year.

2015 will be a crucial and important year for our wrestlers. Serious tests await them at the first European Olympic Games in history and at the World qualifying championships for the summer Olympics in Brazil.