CHANGE OF GENERATIONS

Summer Olympic Games held in August in Brazil have revealed some problems in the Azerbaijani sport. Along with a new record in the history of the national sport (18 medals), individual federations experience some problems too.

The leadership of federations has taken into account the results of the Brazilian Olympic Games, and has already begun some reforms that will accelerate after the Islamic Games in 2017.

The National Wrestling Federation was the first organization to start the reforms. The contracts of head coaches of national Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling teams have been suspended after the Summer Olympics. Shaipulla Apsaidov and Jamshid Heyrabadi have resigned. In addition, the captain of the national team, three-time Olympic medalist Khetag Gazumov finished his career.

The Wrestling Federation had to replace the coaches, as the wrestlers, who have won 9 medals at the Summer Olympics, have failed to get any gold medals. It is expected that a Greco-Roman wrestler, Rovshan Bayramov, will also leave the big sport in 2017. The main objective is to have a new and more competitive team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. New head coaches of both teams will be approved in the first months of 2017 to achieve this objective. Temporary head coaches for Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling are Akif Aliyev and Firdovsi Umudov, respectively.

The national boxing team, which won silver and bronze medals at the Rio-2016, also undergoes reforms. The Cuban coach Pedro Roque was dismissed. At the same time, the following boxers giving hopes for medals have announced retirement after the Islamic Games 2017: Mahammadrasul Majidov, Albert Salimov, Abdulgadir Abdullayev, Lorenzo Sotomayor. Thus, there will be fundamental changes in the national team of Azerbaijan. Now, the federation is preparing for the national championship. After this competition, the candidates for the national team will be involved in the training camp and some new names will appear in the main team. The name of the new head coach will be announced in February. The Federation continues negotiations and is looking for a new coach in Bulgaria, Russia and Cuba.

Silver medal canoeist Valentin Demyanenko and bronze medalist in rowing Inna Osipenko-Radomskaya finished their career after the Rio Olympics. The reason for such a step of Ukrainian sportsmen is their age. Demyanenko (33) became naturalized in 2007 and was included in the national team. Over the past 8 years, he has become three times the world champion and four times the European champion. The silver medalist of the Rio 2016 showed the same result at the First European Games held in Baku in 2015.

I. Osipenko-Radomskaya (34) received the Azerbaijani passport in 2014. Although she reached the final of the European and world championships, as well as the European Games, she was not among the winners. This year, however, she has won 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals at two competitions of the World Cup. At the Summer Olympics, I. Osipenko-Radomskaya was a bronze medalist in the race for 200 meters.

The Rowing Federation of Azerbaijan has made an announcement on attracting new athletes to the national team starting next year. They also consider inviting athletes from abroad. This will become clear in 2017 after the national championship.

The Azerbaijani Federation of Athletics also continues strengthening of the national team. President Chingiz Huseynzade said that in the coming years, Azerbaijan would have a strong national team. It is possible that other coaches will be involved in the team to improve the junior sportsmen in the team.

The biggest changes will occur in the national weightlifting team. Virtually all members of the national team will be replaced. It is good to see a strong new generation of weightlifters growing. The competition for the Cup of Azerbaijan confirmed the high level of interest in this sport in the country. The Federation has developed a special plan for the training of the national team at the highest level. The main objective is to win as many licenses for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as possible.

Some changes are expected in the national judo team, which won two silver medals at the Rio 2016. Currently, the National Judo Federation cannot clarify who will be the head coach. The reason for this is the lawsuit against the Austrian coach Peter Seisenbacher in Austria. If Seisenbaher wins the case, the Federation will renew a contract with him for another four years. Otherwise, it will be necessary to find a new head coach for the national team.

It is expected that our world champion in judo Elkhan Mammadov completes his career in 2017. At the same time, it is planned to replace the Georgian legionary Ushagni Kokouri with another athlete. Local sportsmen will have a chance in other weight categories. The Federation intends to develop a 4-year program to be presented in Tokyo and with a stronger team.

2017 will mark a number of changes in the Azerbaijani sport. After the Islamic Solidarity Games to be held in Baku in 2017, some of the award-winning athletes to part with the sport. Young athletes will take their places. The foundation of a successful performance at the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020 will be laid in 2017.