WRESTLING IS A WAY OF LIFE

2014 was a significant year for some Azerbaijani sportsmen. One of these athletes was a member of the national team of Azerbaijan in freestyle wrestling, a three-time national champion and winner of World and European championships, Haci Aliyev. At the end of the season he was selected athlete of the year by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as by the Azerbaijani Wrestling Federation. At the meeting of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan dedicated to the results of the year, President Ilham Aliyev presented the wrestler with keys to an apartment in recognition of his work.

When Haci Aliyev won a gold medal at the European Championship, some thought it was an accident. But winning the World Championship later, the young wrestler proved that it was no accident.

Haci Aliyev answered questions from R+ on the development of his career and future plans.

- Last year was very successful for you. Did you expect that 2014 would be so significant to you?

- For a long time I tried to succeed in major competitions. Finally, in 2014, hard work bore fruit. At the beginning of the year I became a champion of Azerbaijan for the third time. Then I took first place at the traditional Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov tournament in Bulgaria. Then I won the European title in the Finnish city of Vantaa. In the final of the Grand Prix held in Germany, I beat an Armenian wrestler. I won the title of world champion at the championship held in Tashkent. When the national anthem of Azerbaijan was played and our flag was raised, my joy knew no bounds. Recently, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave me an apartment. In short, 2014 entered my life in letters of gold.

- In 2014, you started a family...

- When young people start a family - it doesn't matter whether it's a guy or girl, it's a great event. Creating a family strengthens the sense of responsibility in people. I got married in October last year.

- How did the champion of Europe and the world come to sports?

- I was born on 4 April 1991 in Nakhchivan. As a child, I was a very naughty, restless child. I took up wrestling at 8. It was my father who aroused my interest in the sport. He briefly worked as a physical education teacher in Nakhchivan. My father instilled in us - me and my brother Yasar - love for wrestling since childhood. I'm very grateful to my parents. Both father and mother put a lot of work to educate us as true citizens of our country.

At 17 years, I won a silver medal at the European Junior Champi-onship. At the European Youth Championship in July 2011, I was awarded a silver medal. I can say that it was after this period that I began a period of recovery.

- In your family there are two wrestlers - your brother Yasar and you. Which one of you is stronger?

- (Laughs) My brother and I have always tried to be the strongest in our weight classes. Yasar is older than me by 2 years and works in the category of 57 kg. When I went to the European Championship in 2013, everyone was waiting for me to be back with a victory. However, it turned out that Yasar won the bronze medal there and I returned home without a medal. And in 2014, Yasar won the championship of Azerbaijan.

- After winning European and world championships, you probably dream about winning the Olympic Games...

- The next goal is to achieve success in the European Games to be held in Baku, and later at the Summer Olympics in 2016. In my opinion, after each victory an athlete has to think about the next success. You should never be complacent.

- Some athletes get a swelled head after their success...

- There can be no talk of getting a swelled head. Last year I won several awards. I would like 2015 to be successful as well. My ideal in wrestling is Namiq Abdullayev. I watched video recordings of a competition with his participation and tried to be like our Olympic champion. I've always been attracted by the training regime of Namiq Abdullayev, and I regarded him as an example for myself. He never changed after successes.

- In 2015, the biggest challenge for our wrestlers will be the European Games to be held in Baku. How are you preparing for this competition?

- From the beginning of the year, we started practices. Ahead of us is the World Cup, several tournaments and European Games. The conduct of the European Games in our country imposes great responsibility on us. My dream is to take first place in them. We have sports facilities and coaches, and all conditions have been created for us. What else does an athlete need? So we just have to win.

- Sometimes athletes in Azerbaijan finish their careers very early. Will you think of parting with the sport after winning the last medal missing from your collection?

- After becoming an Olympic champion, maybe I'll think about it too. After the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, I'll be around 25. If talented, promising athletes appear among young wrestlers, I'm willing to give way to them. All conditions need to be created for such young people. But if you need me, I will prepare for the next Olympics.

- What other sports are you interested in apart from wrestling?

- I love football. If I hadn't become a wrestler, I would have most likely chosen football. I play football with guys in my spare time with great pleasure. By the way, I'm a fan of Real Madrid because of Cristiano Ronaldo.

- Would footballer Haci Aliyev achieve the same success as wrestler Haci Aliyev?

- It's hard to say. Football in our country is just developing. And in wrestling we've always had good results. Wrestling is the only national sport for us. So I don't regret that I became a wrestler. For me, wrestling is a way of life.