SIXTEEN AWARDS FROM EUROPE

The European Championship in Bucharest, which took place from February 12-18, marked the initial significant challenge for Azerbaijani wrestlers this year. During the tournament in the Romanian capital, our wrestlers secured a total of 16 medals. Azerbaijan clinched the second spot in the overall standings, boasting 5 gold, 3 silver, and 8 bronze medals, following Türkiye.

Best Performances

Azerbaijan's Greco-Roman team claimed second place based on points in the team rankings and secured the top spot in terms of the number of awards, with 3 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze medal. This remarkable feat represents the team's best performance at the European Championships to date.

The national Greco-Roman wrestling team is widely recognised as one of the strongest, a reputation reaffirmed by their success in Romania. Hasrat Jafarov (67kg) emerged as a two-time European champion. Seasoned wrestler Murad Mammadov (63kg) and young talent Nihad Mammadli (60kg) claimed their first career gold medals.

A standout moment of the championship was the debut of Rashad Mammadov, who reached the final and secured a silver medal. Rashad's inclusion in the squad at the last minute, due to national team captain Eldaniz Azizli's injury, proved his potential to be a valuable member of the main team. Among other wrestlers, Ulvi Ganizade earned a silver medal, while Beka Kandelaki received bronze. Unfortunately, due to injuries, three-time European champion and two-time world champion Rafiq Huseynov, along with world championship medallist Sanan Suleymanov, were unable to compete and showcase their capabilities.

The women's national team concluded the championship in fourth place in the team rankings, securing 2 gold and 1 bronze medal. This achievement marks their best performance in terms of medals in the last 8 years and in team rankings over the past 5 years.

The performance of the female wrestlers received positive feedback. Leading the national team at 35 years old, Maria Stadnik (50kg) once again demonstrated her dominance by clinching her 10th European championship title. In the under-59 kg category, Alyona Kolesnik claimed her first title at 29 years old, while Alice Manolova (65 kg) secured a bronze medal.

Impressive Coaching and Results

The coaching staff led by Semyon Shterev significantly propelled the women's national team forward. The contributions of Olympic champion Toghrul Askerov and veteran wrestler Aghahuseyn Mustafayev as coaches yielded positive outcomes, evident in the team's third-place finish in the rankings with 1 silver and 6 bronze medals.

Men's performance at this year's European Championships fell short compared to their previous success two years ago when they were champions. Without Aliabbas Rzazade and Haji Aliyev, other wrestlers failed to meet expectations. Magomedkhan Magomedov secured second place after losing in the final, Turan Bayramov settled for a bronze medal, and Osman Nurmagomedov did not receive any honours.

Young wrestlers Nuraddin Novruzov and Arseniy Jioyev (61kg) delighted their coaches with bronze medals. With a total of 7 medals across 10 weight categories, their performance can be deemed satisfactory.

Olympic Aspirations

Greco-Roman wrestler Murad Mamedov, who clinched a gold medal, expressed his belief in a successful performance. Despite a serious arm injury before the competition in Croatia, Mammadov opted against surgery to avoid a lengthy recovery period. He participated in the European Championships, where he engaged in four matches. His crucial victories came in the semi-finals and the final, defeating Russian and Ukrainian opponents respectively. Like all athletes, Mammadov harbours the dream of becoming an Olympic champion.

The head coach of the Azerbaijan national freestyle wrestling team, Khetag Gazumov, expressed in an interview with R+ that the team had the potential for greater achievements: "We had opportunities to secure medals across all weight categories. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. It would have been remarkable if all our wrestlers had reached the podium. Nonetheless, it's encouraging to see our young athletes making their mark among the top three. They serve as inspirational figures. My only regret is the absence of a gold medal. We had high hopes for Magomedkhan Magomedov, but he settled for silver after losing in the final. We aim for improved results in the future."

Gazumov outlined plans for the national team, indicating that two training camps are scheduled. The youth squad will participate in the traditional memorial tournament Yashar Dogu, while the main team will focus on preparations for the upcoming license tournament in Baku.