BAD START, GOOD END

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Youth and Sports has finally named the best athlete of the year. The large number of major victories at the World and European Championships in 2009 made it extremely difficult even to guess who would be awarded this honorary title. The two-time world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling Farid Mansurov, the World and European wrestling champion Maria Stadnik and the world and European rowing champion Valentin Demyanenko were named among the leading contenders for the title of best athlete.

But it was Farid Mansurov who was chosen in the end. Thus, he was declared the country's best sportsman for the third time in his sporting career. In an interview with us, the winner of the Summer Olympic Games in Athens and two-time world champion, Farid Mansurov, spoke of the unsuccessful start to 2009, his victory at the World Championship and the title of which he dreamt.

- How did 2009 begin for the best athlete?

- I do not even want to remember. We ruined our own mood with a botched performance at the European Championships. However, the subsequent course of events showed that our Greco-Roman wrestlers are able to regroup quickly.

- But the year, although it began in failure, was successful...

- I regained confidence after my victory in the Golden Grand Prix tournament, which was held in memory of our national leader Heydar Aliyev. The biggest success came at the World Championships in Denmark. Not only I, but all our team are remembered for our spectacular performance at the championship, against the strongest athletes. We won 3 medals. In the team standings, our team took third place for the first time. Naturally, I very much wanted to become world champion for a second time. I am glad that I achieved what I wanted. This is how 2009 ended.

- Have you not forgotten to mention one other significant event in the year?

- (Smiles) You're right. In December, I finally got married. I can say that I ended the year on a positive note.

- In your collection, you have a gold medal from the Olympic Games in Athens and two gold medals from the World Championships. What else does Farid Mansurov dream of?

- I have not yet become European champion. My dream is to win the continental championship. In sport everything is possible. An Olympic champion might not win the World Cup. Or the world's best athlete may not do well at the European Championships. So I will prepare seriously for the next one. I want to have a gold medal from the European Championships in my collection.

- Did you expect such a result? Did you expect that you would be chosen the sportsman of the year?

- Well, yes and no. Because our sportsmen have won many medals this year. In any case, I thank all those who chose me as the best sportsman of the year. In any case, this is the choice of the sports community.

- And who would you choose as the best sportsman of the year? 

- Probably Maria Stadnik. She won the European and World championships. The season was very successful for Maria. So, I think the best sportswoman of the year is Maria Stadnik.

- What about male athletes?

- (Laughs) I would probably name myself. I took first place at the Golden Grand Prix and became world champion.

- The leader of the weightlifting team, Nizami Pasayev, was also close to becoming a world champion...

- Nizami Pasayev is a close friend. We were injured almost simultaneously. An injury prevents an athlete from training at full strength. I want to say that Nizami has had a hard time. But he did very well at the World Cup. He got just a silver medal. The fact that he won a medal in such a solid competition after a long break is a great success. For me, his silver is equivalent to gold.

- We have already mentioned major achievements. In what sport did Farid Mansurov expect more from our athletes?

- I expected successful performances from our boxers. Azerbaijani boxers have won medals at all Olympic Games. But 2009 turned out to be unsuccessful for them. This is most probably due to the formation of a new team.

- And what about tae kwon do? Your friend Niyamaddin Pasayev has already quit the sport.

- Although the world tae kwon do champion, Niyamaddin Pasayev, has completed his sporting career, his heart lives for sport. Simply, his injury does not allow him to do well. In private conversations he told me that he misses the sport. In his absence, Rasad Ahmadov maintains the leadership. He distinguished himself by winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. I understand that the fans expect only the highest medals from us at every contest. But we must not forget that all athletes involved in competitions have the same dream. Winning a silver or bronze in the atmosphere of tough competition at the World and European Championships is not so bad. 

- Speaking of successes, I would like to mention the chess players...

- The victory of our chess players at the team competition in Europe was a great achievement. However, in asking about chess player, you forgot about the rowers. This year, Valentin Demyanenko became world and European champion. All members of the rowing team represented our country with credit.

- And what about the champion of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Elnur Mammadli? In 2009, he was unable to participate in any contest.

- Elnur was injured after the Olympics,. He underwent surgery on his knee. I was lucky that my injury healed so quickly. Elnur also took some time out for treatment. But do not worry. In 2010 he will have his say.

- What does a second World Cup victory mean to Farid Mansurov?

- Self-assertion! After the Olympics, some thought that a number of our athletes were finished. Nizami Pasayev, Rasad Ahmadov and I were, as they say, excluded from the lists. But we proved that it was too early to write us off. We have many more contests lying ahead.

- And in conclusion, I would like to hear your wishes for Region Plus readers.

- Congratulations to all on Azerbaijani World Solidarity Day. Let them support our athletes. You support, we win.

Thank you, Farid, we wish you every success in the New Year.