NUMBER ONE

Azerbaijani wrestlers continue to please their fans with great results this year. They left behind yet another European championship, where they have excelled all their opponents.

Record-breaking results

The continental championship in Budapest went down in history with another set of records. In freestyle wrestling, 7 of 10 athletes coached by Namig Abdullayev made it to the podium. A debutante of the tournament, Magomedkhan Magomedov (97kg), became a European champion. Aliabbas Rzazade (57 kg), Haji Aliyev (65 kg), Ashraf Ashirov (79 kg) and Abubakar Abakarov (86 kg) won silver medals, while Turan Bayramov (74 kg) and Osman Nurmagomedov (92) got the bronze ones. With total 159 points, the Azerbaijani team became a European champion. It is the third such title in the history of the national team. Previous ones were recorded back in 2009 and 2017.

In women's wrestling, only three athletes represented Azerbaijan under the acting head coach Rovshan Umudov. All could have done well, but Turkan Nasirova (50kg) and Alena Kolesnik (59kg) lost their bouts for bronze medals, while Alice Manolova (65kg) took the silver one, being her fourth medal at European championships. 

The Greco-Roman wrestling team competed under the guidance of head coach Alexander Tarakanov, head coach Rovshan Bayramov and coach Hasan Aliyev. Eight of ten members of the team returned home with medals.

In golden letters

After a four-year break, European champion Eldaniz Azizli (55kg) is back. He was on the podium for the sixth time in European championships and entered the history of Azerbaijani wrestling as an athlete with the most medals in classical wrestling: 2 gold and 4 bronze.

Rafig Huseynov (82kg) was also the record holder at this event. European champion in 2011 and 2020, he became the first in Budapest as well. Rafig, who will turn 34 soon, is a record-holder now for the number of European titles among the other Greco-Roman wrestlers from the national team.

Taleh Mammadov (63 kg) won a silver medal, while Murad Mammadov (60 kg), Hasrat Jafarov (67 kg), Ulvi Ganizade (72 kg), Sanan Suleymanov (77 kg) and Islam Abbasov (87 kg) won bronze medals.

With two gold, one silver and five bronze medals, the Azerbaijani team scored 165 points. It is the first-in-history achievement of Azerbaijan as a European champion, also showing its best ever result in terms of points, as well as the number and value of medals.

As a result, 16 of 23 Azerbaijani athletes made it to the podium, with 3 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze medals. Azerbaijan is only behind Turkey in terms of the number and value of medals. For the first time, two Azerbaijani wrestling teams became European champions.

On its return from Budapest, the national team was received by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. He signed a decree allocating from the Reserve Fund of the President of Azerbaijan ₼1 million for the achievements of the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation.

Still strong

In his interview with R+, gold medalist Greco-Roman wrestler Eldaniz Azizli said he was happy and shared his impressions on his meeting with President Aliyev: "I won the most medals at various European championships. I am very happy for becoming a champion. Our meeting with President Aliyev has encouraged our wrestlers. This support inspires and encourages us, making us prepare for competitions even better. It is a pleasure to learn that our president knows us personally, knows about our achievements and keeps track of them. It is a great honour for all of us. We are proud that we have a president who understands athletes.”

Three-time European champion Rafig Huseynov (34) said he was not planning to end his career for now. He added that winning the championship for the third time in his career has encouraged him: "I am extremely happy. After all, I made the Azerbaijani people, my relatives, friends and family happy. I am also happy for my teammates. Today I am a European champion. But tomorrow I can fail at world or other continental championships. Not everything works as intended sometimes, especially in sports. I was successful this time and I'm still going to compete. I will continue my career as long as I am healthy.”

Eighth best in Europe

After a successful performance in Budapest, the number of medals won by Azerbaijani athletes at European championships has reached 173. With 52 gold, 41 silver and 80 bronze medals, Azerbaijan ranks eighth on the continent. The result achieved in Hungary has further increased the gap between our closest rivals on the podium—Poland (38-66-102) and Ukraine (59-82-117).

On April 9, Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation (AWF) held an extraordinary general meeting. The event chaired by AWF President Mikayil Jabbarov saw the election of new members of the AWF Executive Committee, including Olympic freestyle wrestling champion Namig Abdullayev, Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling champion Farid Mansurov and Vasif Mammadov. AWF Executive Committee already has five members, including Mikayil Jabbarov and Namig Aliyev (AWF Vice-President).