THE BEST IN THE WORLD

The World Weight-Lifting Championship - the 82nd for men and 25th for women - has ended in Houston (USA). Some 737 athletes from 115 countries (314 women and 423 men) fought for medals. The championship turned out to be interesting and tense, many world and European records were set up and the world of weight-lifting has discovered a whole number of new names.

Azerbaijan, who fielded 8 men and 3 women, had a successful competition. This is particular true of the men, who picked up Olympic qualification points.

First - the medals. The best result was achieved by Boyanka Kostova in the 58kg category. First off, in the Snatch she lifted 109kg, repeating her own European record. Then she lifted 112kg, setting up a new world and European record. The previous world record of 111kg was held by the Chinese girl, Chen Yanqing and was set up back in 2006.

Kostova also started well in the Clean and Jerk, lifting 136kg and repeating her own European record for the two exercises together - 248kg. By lifting 140kg in her third attempt she set up a new European record in this discipline. With a total of 252 kg (112+140) she broke the world record of the Chinese, Chen Yanqing, also set up in 2006. So, Kostova, who is a member of the Neftci sports club, wrote a new page in the history of Azerbaijani weight-lifting, becoming their first women's world weight-lifting champion. Kostova established a total of 6 records - 2 world and 4 European - and was named best sportswoman of the championship. With a total of 252 kg in her weight category she beat all her rivals in the Sinkler table with 355.23 points.

The only medal among the men was won by Valentin Hristov in the 62kg category, which gave third place overall. In the Snatch he lifted 137 and 141kg in his first two attempts. But he failed on 143kg in the third and had to be satisfied with a bronze. He was also in the top three in the Clean and Jerk. After mastering 171 and 176kg, he even tried in his last attempt to beat the European record with 181kg, but couldn't manage it and again had to be satisfied with third place. With a total of 317kg (141+176), Hristov took third place behind the Chinese, Chen Lijun, and the North Korean, Kim Un-guk. The Chinese had a total of 333kg (150+183) and the Korean 5 fewer (328kg (151+177)).

The Azerbaijani, Nicat Rahimov, was also a winner among the men in the 77kg category. But he was representing Kazakhstan. The 22-year old lifted 165kg in the Snatch, and 207kg in the Clean and Jerk. Interestingly, the North Korean, Kim Kwang-song lifted the same as Rahimov - 372kg (171+201). But he was 1.2kg heavier than our athlete, and it was Nicat Rahimov who celebrated the joy of being champion. 

But Azerbaijan's weight-lifting success was not confined to just these two medals. The World Champi-onship in Houston provided qualifying points for the 2016 Olympics, and the points won by each member of the team are included in the country's overall total.

Points are awarded for 25 places. An athlete who wins a gold medal earns 28 points, a silver - 25 and a bronze 23. And each subsequent place secures one point less, right down to 25th place. There are three tournaments of a qualifying nature. They are the World Championships held one and two years before the Olympics, and also continental tournaments held in the Olympic year. After all the points are added up a team table is compiled. For the men, the teams occupying places 1-6 receive six Olympic qualifications; places 7-12 - five; 13-18 - four and 19-24 three.

For the women, the qualifications are distributed as follows: places 1-9 - four; 10-16 - three and 17-21 - two. The International Weight-Lifting Federation has the right to present "wild cards" to the countries that have won qualifications. Each country may be represented at the Olympics by a maximum of 10 athletes (six men and four women).

The Azerbaijani women's team, despite Kostova's success, is not yet among the Olympic contenders. By winning a gold, Kostova earned 28 points. Anastasiya Ibrahimli, who came 13th in the 69kg category, brought the country another 13 points. But Slavia Angelova came 34th in the tournament and finished outside the points zone.

Together with the 19 points won in Kazakhstan last year, the total was 60 points, and the country only occupied 26th place, which is not enough to qualify. But there is one other, albeit small, positive factor. Finishing 24th in the team classification, the women's team occupied third place in the world for number of medals. This became possible thanks to the three gold medals (in the Clean and Jerk, Snatch and combined) won by Kostova.

The men's team were more successful. Bronze medallist in the 62kg category, Valentin Hristov brought 23 points to the team's total; Firudin Quliyev (69kg), and Elxan Aliquliyev (77kg), who came sixth, each brought the team 20 points. Intiqam Zahirov (94kg, 7th place) added 17 points; Rovsan Fatullayev (94kg, 12th) - 14; Nailxan Nabiyev (105kg, 21st) - 5 and Dadas Dadasbayli (105kg, 9th) - 18. The team won a total of 112 points, plus another 23 achieved at last year's championship in Kazakh-stan. In the overall table, Azerbaijan had 135 points and 16th place, earning them the right to four qualification places. The European Championship is still to come with the possibility of more qualification points.

The men's team took sixth place in the team classification at the championship and eighth for number of medals. The only thing to spoil the picture was the result of last year's World Championship, where Azerbai-jan did not field its strongest team. This time the team was stronger and more committed. Our young and gifted athletes Elxan Aliquluzada, Firudin Quliyev and Dadas Dadasbayli did what was asked of them. Although they are only at the start of their careers, there is no doubt they will do our country proud in future tournaments.

World Champion Boyanka Kostova shared her impressions of the championship with R+: "I set myself two goals: the championship and a world record. Although my rivals did their best to prevent my dream coming true, they didn't succeed. At Houston, where all I wanted was a gold medal, I achieved my goal. I'm very happy with my performance."

So, Kostova not only became world champion but also put an end to 10 years of waiting.

Incidentally, the only world weight-lifting champion in our history, Nizami Pasayev, is now a member of the national team's coaching team. He was world champion twice - in 2002 and 2005.