ELEVEN YEARS TO SUCCESS

In 2013, Elkhan Mammadov clinched the World Judo Championship, marking a historic first for our national sport. This momentous occasion was followed by an extended wait for another triumph. Finally, the wait ended. The World Judo Championship, hosted on May 19-24 in the UAE, heralded the rise of new Azerbaijani champions.

Gold of the 7th championship

Azerbaijani sports soared to new heights in Abu Dhabi. For the first time, two Baku athletes simultaneously reached the finals. And for the first time, both finalists, having navigated all preliminary rounds, emerged as World Championship victors. The gold medals won by Hidayat Heydarov (73kg) and Zelim Kotsoyev (100kg) propelled Azerbaijan to fourth place in the team classification. Japan, with three golds, claimed the top spot, while Georgia and Korea shared the second and third places.

Thus, after 11 long years, Azerbaijani athletes once again ascended to the top of the World Championship podium. It's important to highlight that Hidayat Heydarov's path to victory was fraught with challenges. After overcoming Akil Gyakov (Kosovo) in the opening bout, Hidayat left Spaniard Salvador Cazes Roca with no quarter. Subsequent adversaries included Brazilian Daniel Karnin and Igor Wandtke (Germany), both of whom succumbed to his prowess. In the final, a gripping contest unfolded against Japan's Tatsuki Ishihara. Trailing on points, Heydarov snatched victory in the closing seconds with a decisive ippon. Consequently, the judoka, participating in his seventh World Championship, was adorned with a gold medal.

The triumph of Zelim Kotsoyev in the heavyweight division was somewhat unforeseen. The Azerbaijani national team had grappled with the heavyweight (100kg) category for an extended period. Kotsoyev commenced his campaign with a win over Jung-Hoon Won from South Korea, followed by a victory against the seasoned Peter Palchik (Israel). His subsequent opponents were among the elite; nevertheless, in arduous bouts, two-time world champion Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (Spain) and Tokyo Olympic Games medallist Jorge Fonseca (Portugal) were bested by Kotsoyev. In the finale, the judoka faced Canadian Shadi El Nahas, whom he defeated to clinch his inaugural world championship title.

It's noteworthy that Kotsoyev has been a stalwart of the Azerbaijani junior team since the age of 16. The judoka, hailing from Russia, has been honed by local coaches since his adolescence and has attained all his accolades within Azerbaijan.

The dual gold medals have cast a radiant light on the shortcomings of other national team members. Some athletes bowed out of the competition due to inadequate physical conditioning, while others faltered because of errors.

Hard work = Victory

Elkhan Mammadov, the inaugural Azerbaijani judo world champion, conveyed his elation to Region plus following the Abu Dhabi triumph: "The entire judo fraternity exults in Hidayat's accomplishment. The rendition of the Azerbaijani anthem at the Mundial after 11 years is a testament to the prowess of our national judo institution. Hidayat's conquest, 11 years in the making, underscores the drama and intensity inherent in the World Championships. These global contests are far from ordinary. Attaining a lofty result at the Olympics and World Championships signifies immense success. A country may field two athletes per weight class at the world championship, intensifying the competition. Victory is the harvest of relentless and meticulous effort. Undoubtedly, Hidayat's championship is the culmination of the collective team's labour, not solely his own.

Mammadov also lauded Kotsoyev's performance: "Post the Grand Slam in Baku, Zelim grappled with weight management issues. He was beleaguered both mentally and physically. These challenges came to light during evaluations. Our objective was to moderate his weight a month prior to the World Championships, alleviate exhaustion, and bolster his mental fortitude. Following the European Championship, the national coach and we provided guidance. Attaining peak condition was paramount. After all, acclimating to a weight class and resolving ancillary issues is no trivial endeavour. Zelim's final bout was exceedingly tense. The anxiety I endured during Zelim's match will linger for some time. The euphoria of emerging as a champion, after the arduous journey we've undertaken, is indescribable."

The sterling performance at the World Championships is the logical outcome of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation's diligent and strategic efforts in recent years. Beyond consultations with a psychologist, judokas undergo regular health assessments. Most crucially, the athletes approach their training with utmost responsibility.

According to current rankings, seven men and one woman from Azerbaijan are poised to secure judo licenses for the Summer Olympics 2024. We may vie for up to nine licenses, matching our quota from the 2020 Tokyo Games, as per the official list slated for release on July 1.