PARISIAN HOPES

The pinnacle of this year's sporting events is set to unfold in the French capital during the summer. Come August, Paris will play host to the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games. In a departure from the norm, athletes had a three-year window, rather than four, to secure their licenses due to the pandemic that engulfed the globe in 2020. With four months remaining until the Olympics, Region plus has endeavoured to gauge the prospects of Azerbaijani athletes vying for participation in the Paris Olympics.

To date, local athletes have clinched 11 licenses across various sports: shooting - Ruslan Lunev; boxing - Murad Allahverdiev, Mohammed Abdullayev, Nijat Huseynov; athletics - Anna Skidan; rhythmic gymnastics - Zohra Aghamirova; wrestling - Magomedkhan Magomedov, Sanan Suleymanov, Hasrat Jafarov; taekwondo - Hashim Muhammedov; trampoline gymnastics - Seljan Maqsudova.

Wrestling: Primary Hope

The Azerbaijani wrestling team, often referred to as the country's "heavy artillery," has consistently been represented by the most extensive contingent at the Olympics, with the athletes invariably returning with medals.

Thus far, three Azerbaijani contenders have secured their passage to Paris. At last year's World Championships in Belgrade, freestyle wrestler Magomedkhan Magomedov (97kg) and Greco-Roman wrestlers Sanan Suleymanov (77kg) and Hasrat Jafarov (67kg) earned their Olympic licenses.

In the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, the wrestlers are poised for two pivotal licensing tournaments, the first of which is slated for Baku from April 4-7. The European qualification tournament in Baku is anticipated to be a significant opportunity for our wrestlers. The remaining slots will be determined at the tournament in Istanbul (May 9-12), where three wrestlers per weight category will secure their "tickets" to Paris.

Boxing with prospects

The path to Olympic qualification in boxing is a multi-tiered affair, encompassing several tournaments. Last year, our pugilists garnered licenses at continental competitions. At the European Games, Murad Allahverdiyev (80kg) and Muhammed Abdullayev (+92kg) adeptly accomplished this feat. Additionally, in February, Nijat Huseynov triumphantly claimed his inaugural Olympic ticket at an event in Italy.

The pugilists now face their final opportunity. The ultimate licensing tournament is on the calendar for May 23-June 5 in Bangkok.

Judo - in anticipation of 10 licenses

The men's national judo team stands a strong chance in nearly all weight divisions, with intra-squad rivalry in certain categories intensifying the competitive spirit. Nine judokas are vying for seven available spots: Balabek Aghayev (60kg), Turan Bayramov (60kg), Yashar Najafov (66kg), Hidayat Heydarov (73kg), Said Mollai (81kg), Zelim Tskayev (81kg), Murad Fatiyev (90kg), Zelim Kotsoyev (100kg), and Ushangi Kokauri (+100 kg). It appears team stalwarts Heydarov and Kotsoyev are well-positioned to commence their Olympic preparations.

In the women's team, Leyla Aliyeva (48kg), Gultaj Mammadaliyeva (52kg), and Achelia Toprak (57kg) are in contention for licenses. The national judo squad is projected to be represented by no fewer than 10 judokas in Paris.

Rhythmic gymnastics and the final opportunity

Zohra Aghamirova performed commendably at last year's World Championships in Valencia and is gearing up for her second Olympic endeavour.

In the realm of trampoline gymnastics, Seljan Maqsudova has attained the Olympic license, marking a historic first for the nation in this discipline.

The spotlight now shifts to the Group Exercise Team. They are set to compete in the European Championships in Budapest (April 24-28), the ultimate qualifying event for Paris. While most of Europe's elite teams have already secured their Olympic berths at previous World Championships, the Azerbaijani group exercise team is ostensibly the frontrunner for this last coveted ticket. However, ascending to the top of the podium is a requisite for success.

Gymnastics

Licenses for the World Cup and European Championships in gymnastics will be awarded to the victors. The World Cup's license allocation will occur across individual disciplines, with two athletes per discipline earning their passage to France. These licenses will be determined by the athletes' performances across three of the four stages. The final opportunity for qualification will arise at the European Championships scheduled for Rimini in late April to early May, where the men's and women's all-around events will yield two licenses each.

Taekwondo's Lone License

Our team has secured a singular qualification, achieved by Hashim Muhammedov (58kg) at the Grand Slam tournament. Regrettably, taekwondo will have only one representative from Azerbaijan in Paris. The early March competitions did not yield further success for our taekwondo athletes.

Shooting

Azerbaijani marksmen have participated in multiple licensing contests this year. The Hungarian event did not bring the desired results. However, upcoming opportunities include a licensing tournament in Doha (April 22-30), the European Championship in Lonato, Italy (May 15-27), and a qualification event in Osijek, Croatia (June 20-28). These events present additional chances for our athletes to excel. Currently, only Ruslan Lunev's Olympic participation is confirmed.

Weightlifting

Selection in weightlifting hinges on ranking. The inaugural Olympic ranking schedule will be established on 28 April, qualifying 10 athletes per weight category for Paris. Athletes can also secure Olympic berths through continental ratings as of this date, contingent upon their results at continental-scale tournaments.

Fencing

The classification period for fencing is anticipated to conclude in April, with a particular emphasis on sabre fencers. Athletes are accruing points at the world and continental championships, the World Cup, and the Grand Prix. Between 34-37 fencers will vie for glory in France. Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani team did not qualify for the Olympics, falling short in the team competition against Italy.

Triathlon

Azerbaijani triathlete Rostislav Pevtsov is well-positioned to qualify for his third Olympic Games. Athletes within the top 55 of the world rankings will earn spots at the Games. Last year, the seasoned 45-year-old Pevtsov clinched bronze at the World Championships in Chengdu and accumulated points at various other events. He continues his competitive journey, including participation in the Hong Kong leg.

Rowing

Diana Dimchenko stands a chance to secure a rowing license. Success in all European qualifying competitions is essential for her qualification. 

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris are set to take place from 26 July to 11 August.