FARID MANSUROV OR MARIA STADNIK?

2009 is coming to an end. This means it is time to analyze results. The season can be summarised as successful for Azerbaijani sports. Our athletes have achieved major successes in a number of prestigious tournaments. Of course, there were failures as well. Some teams experienced changes of coach, others became much younger. Traditionally, the Ministry of Youth and Sports names the best sportsmen of the year at the end of the season. We have decided to analyze the biggest victories accomplished by our sportsmen and outline a number of candidates for the title. So, these are the names of the top Azerbaijani athletes of 2009…

Football 

Azerbaijani clubs Qarabag and Baki, which advanced quite well in European cups, gratified fans of the world's most popular game in Azerbaijan more than any other teams. Qarabag, led by Qurban Qurbanov, knocked Norwegian FC Rosenborg and Finnish FC Honka out of the Europa League (former UEFA Cup), reaching the play-off stage for the first time in its history. Then the Azerbaijani team was beaten by FC Twente from the Netherlands. Nevertheless, with only one non-native player in its squad, Qarabag deserved its name - the pearl of Azerbaijan. 

Azerbaijani champions Baki, by beating the Lithuanian team Ekranas, qualified for the third qualification stage of the Champions League. Then, after being defeated by the Bulgarians of FC Levski, the Baku club had to compete with the Swiss side FC Basel in the Europa League, but was knocked out again. 

As for the national team, it managed to prove itself only in the last two games of the qualification campaign. After beating Liechtenstein 2-0, Berti Vogts' team drew their home game with Russia 1-1. The level of football displayed by the national team in these two matches increased optimism in the football community and enabled the Football Association to extend the German coach's contract by a further two years. In a recent tournament in the UAE, Azerbaijan finished third, after suffering a narrow defeat at the hands of Iraq and beating the Czech Republic 2-0.

Wrestling 

The biggest successes in all Olympic sports this year were achieved by wrestlers. Our free-style wrestlers produced a real sensation at the European championship in Vilnius. Ali Isayev, Xataq Qazumov, Camsulvara Camsulvarayev and Zalimxan Huseynov won gold medals, while Cabrail Hasanov took silver after losing only in the final. Novruz Temrezov won bronze. In the end, the Azerbaijan national team was the best team for the first time in its history. Maria Stadnik won gold in women's wrestling, while Zumrud Qurbanhaciyeva finished with silver.

At the end of the year, Azerbaijani wrestlers also represented the country successfully at the World Championship in Denmark. Xataq Qazumov, Camsulvara Camsulvarayev and Zalimxan Huseynov won silver medals, while Sarif Sarifov rose to third place on the podium.

Even greater were the successes of our Greek-Roman wrestlers. Farid Mansurov, who fell short of expectations at the Beijing Olympics, due to problems with his health, had his say at the world cup. By beating all his opponents, the Athens Olympic champion became the first two-time world champion in Azerbaijan's history. Other members of the team, Vitaliy Rahimov and Rovsan Bayramov, won bronze medals. The Azerbaijani team finished in third place.  

Among the women wrestlers, Maria gained the upper hand and proved that she is the best in the world in the 48-kg weight bracket. Also returning to Baku as world champion was Yuliya Radkevich, while Sona Ahmadova, who began her sporting career as a judo wrestler, finished second, taking silver.

The main competition for the title of best sportsman of the year is expected to be between Farid Mansurov, who has become a two-time world champion, and Maria Stadnik, who won two titles in 2009 - world and European champion. Time will tell who wins.

Judo 

Since the triumphant victory of Elnur Mammadov at the Beijing Olympics, interest in this sport has surged considerably in Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, the Olympic champion has had to miss this season due to injury and is expected to return to the sport in March.

However, young sportsmen had their successes this year. The impressive performance of the national team at the European championship in Yerevan could not go unnoticed. By winning gold in the 100-kg category, Elmar Gasimov also made the audience in Armenia, the country occupying Azerbaijani territories, stand up for the Azerbaijani national anthem. Ilqay Musiyev won silver, while three more Azerbaijani judo wrestlers finished third with bronze medals.

Another revelation of the year was Ramin Qurbanov, who first won gold at the Student Games and then bronze in the world championship.

As for women's judo, the biggest achievement of the year was the bronze medal won by Kifayat Qasimova in the world championship.

Field athletics 

Public interest in this sport, which had not previously enjoyed particular popularity in Azerbaijan, increased after the world championship in which Ramil Quliyev reached the final and became the only European represented there. Finishing seventh, Ramil demonstrated his true ambition.

The young sportsman, who has also won at the Student Games, can still impress. It is no wonder that the Russian national team asked him to represent them in international competitions. Ramil took the compliments in his stride and said he would not change his national team for any other in the world.

Chess 

The biggest achievement was registered in the Serbian town of Novi Sad. Thanks to the selfless performances of our grandmasters, the Azerbaijani national team won gold medals. Comprised of Vuqar Qasimov, Teymur Racabov, Sahriyar Mammadyarov, Qadir Huseynov and Rauf Mammadov, the team became the best in Europe. In May, the Azerbaijani national team played a match against the rest of the world in a tournament organized in memory of national leader Heydar Aliyev. Although our chess players were defeated, the visit by the world's best to Azerbaijan aroused tremendous interest and the tournament took place in the international spotlight.

Volleyball 

There were no major successes at national team or club level this year. The only cause of satisfaction was that five Azerbaijani teams qualified for European cup tournaments. Also, our national team members Oksana Parkhomenko and Valeriya Korotenko became Turkish champions with Fenerbahce, and added silver medals from the CEV cup. Valeriya Korotenko was also named the best libero of the tournament.

Rhythmic gymnastics 

Azerbaijani gymnasts achieved great results at the world championship in Japan: Aliya Qarayeva won silver, while the quartet comprising Aliya Qarayeva, Anna Qurbanova, Zeynab Cavadli and Samira Mustafayeva finished in third place in the team competition.

In combined events the Azerbaijani team, which included Vafa Huseynova, Ceyla Quliyeva, Valeriya Yegay, Dina Gorina, Anastasiya Prasolova and Stefanie Trayanova, finished fourth. In the European Championship held in Baku, Aliya Qarayeva and Anna Qurbanova finished as second-placed team, while Anna Qurbanova also won bronze in the ball activity.

As for Azerbaijan's acrobats, they were the best at the European championship. The duet of Ayla Ahmadova and Dilara Sultanova stood on top of the podium. These two also won silver at the world championship.

Rowing 

In this sport, too, our athletes were worthy representatives of the country in winning medals at the world and European championships. The biggest success was gained by Valentin Davydenko - the Ukrainian-born sportsman representing Azerbaijan became European champion in canoeing. 

Kickboxing 

Even though this sport is not part of the Olympics, various kickboxing tournaments are held throughout the year, including the world and European championships. The biggest win in 2009 was that of Eduard Mammadov, who became world champion for the 12th time (every year two to three world championships are held in different versions).

Weight lifting

This year was not so prolific for Azerbaijani sportsmen. For this reason, the Federation replaced the head coach of the national team and signed an agreement with Bulgarian Yanko Rusev. At the end of the year one medal was finally won - national team captain and two-time world champion Nizami Pasayev won silver this time. Considering his recently expired three-year disqualification (for failing a doping test) and his sustained isolation from international tournaments, this silver is certainly equivalent to a gold.

Taekwondo

By finishing third at the world championship, national team captain Rasad Ahmadov saved the team from complete fiasco. Our fighters also won different medals in international competitions.

Sambo 

The Azerbaijani team won only one medal at the biggest tournament of the year - the world cup. At the championship held in Greece, Islam Qasimov reached the final but had to be content with silver. Our fighters also returned to Baku with 11 bronze medals from the European championship in Georgia.

Futsal 

There were quite a few successful results in this sport, which is often described as football's little brother. After a successful performance in qualifying for the European championship, the team is preparing for the championship itself due in January. The national champions, Araz from Naxcivan, won all their group-stage matches in the elite round of the UEFA Cup, and qualified for the next round of the competition.

Karate 

Three-time world champion and nine-time European champion Rafael Agayev continued his winning streak in 2009. After winning gold in Europe, he became one of the world's best karate fighters. This has been confirmed by the International Karate Federation, which ranks Rafael as one of the best in the world.

Paralympics 

Azerbaijani sportsman Oluxan Musayev won gold at the world Paralympics championship in Bangalore, India. The winner of the 2008 Beijing summer Paralympics beat everyone in the shot put, with a throw of 12.99 m.

Of course, we remained without medals in some sports this year. For instance, the year can hardly be described as successful for our boxers, who had previously won medals at three Olympic Games. The head coach of the national team has been replaced and the team is now led by a Cuban specialist.

So, 2009 has come to an end. The year 2010 now awaits us. It will be a very important year for Azerbaijani sports, first of all because it kick-starts the campaign for places at the 2012 London Olympics. This season Baku will also host a number of world and European championships and other international tournaments. Let's hope that great victories lie ahead.