59 MEDALS AND 10TH PLACE

From November 6 to 22, the capital of the largest country in the Middle East—Saudi Arabia—hosted the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games. At one of the world's most famous sporting competitions among Islamic countries, the Azerbaijani team finished 10th in terms of gold medals but placed 4th among 58 countries in the total medal count. The team won 59 medals in total: 9 gold, 19 silver, and 31 bronze.

Comparison with Konya: causes and reasons

The team's results can be compared to the 2022 Games held in Konya. At those competitions in Türkiye, Azerbaijani athletes won 99 medals—29 gold, 36 silver, and 34 bronze. However, comparing the figures shows significantly fewer medals were won in Riyadh.

First, it is important to note changes to the competition programme. Because of this, Azerbaijan, represented by 281 athletes in Türkiye, sent only 169 people to Saudi Arabia. Gymnastics, which brought 8 gold medals in Konya, was not included in the programme this time. Kick-boxing, which earned Azerbaijan three gold medals then, was also left out. Meanwhile, in Riyadh, camel racing competitions were held, where most medals naturally went to the host country.

In some disciplines, such as wrestling and athletics, the number of medals was lower. Another reason can be the development of sport in Islamic countries in recent years. Whereas previously teams from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar were happy with one or two medals, they now participate with large squads and pose serious competition. Another reason for the decrease in medals brought home was undoubtedly the inadequate preparation of athletes in some sports. Assuming the competition in Islamic countries would not be too strong, they were unable to deliver a worthy performance.

Six medallists from the Paris Summer Olympics participated in the Islamic Solidarity Games. Only judoka Hidayat Heydarov managed to win a gold medal. Other Olympians lost in the finals and had to settle for silver. Hashim Mammadov (taekwondo) placed third, Hasrat Jafarov (Greco-Roman wrestling, 67 kg) took silver, while freestyle wrestlers Magomedkhan Magomedov (97 kg) and Georgi Meshvildishvili (125 kg) won only bronze.

Thus, if the main hope for Azerbaijan was the wrestling team, it did not meet expectations. In freestyle wrestling, Jala Aliyeva and Arsenii Tsioev prevailed over all their opponents and became champions. For Jala Aliyeva, this victory was the second of her career at the Islamic Solidarity Games.

The Greco-Roman wrestlers also failed to justify hopes for gold medals. Olympic medallist Hasrat Jafarov lost in the final to Iranian world and Olympic champion Said Ismaili and took second place. In the decisive three seconds of the final, Jafarov made a mistake and lost the gold. The defeats of Azerbaijani wrestlers in finals by Iranian athletes require serious analysis, as most of them performed below their potential in these matches.

Recall that at the Games in Konya, Azerbaijani wrestlers won eight gold medals, contributing to the country's success in the medal table. In Riyadh, only representatives from two weight categories became champions.

In team competitions, the Azerbaijani women's 3x3 basketball team claimed the top step of the podium. Our basketball players, having won in Baku, Konya, and now Riyadh, became three-time champions of the Islamic Solidarity Games. Another positive point was the hard-fought victory of Azerbaijani women fencers over the Uzbekistan team. This earned us a gold medal at the Games for the second time.

Azerbaijani judokas finished the individual competitions at the Islamic Games with nine medals. Hidayat Heydarov (73 kg) and Sudaba Aghayeva (70 kg) earned gold, Kanan Aliyev (48 kg) and Zelim Kotsoyev (100 kg) silver, and Aytaj Gardashkhanli (70 kg), Eljan Hajiyev (90 kg), Aydan Veliyeva (52 kg), Ruslan Pashayev (66 kg), and Ushangi Kokauri (100+ kg) bronze. In the mixed team competition, the Azerbaijani team emerged strongest and was awarded gold medals.

Another sport on which hopes were pinned in Saudi Arabia was taekwondo. Our fighters, with one silver and one bronze, could not rank among the strongest in the Islamic countries.

Of the Azerbaijani team's nine gold medals, five belong to women. This indicates certain progress in women's sport. However, given that it is less developed in Islamic countries, there is doubt whether this success will be replicated at World and European Championships.

High ambitions

Games winner Jala Aliyeva stated her intention to continue successful performances in 2026: "I want to achieve even greater victories. I have big plans. In the final, I faced the Turkish athlete Elvira Suleyman, whom I had already encountered at the European Championships. Unfortunately, I suffered a rib injury then, and the referee stopped the bout, awarding her the win. At the Islamic Solidarity Games, I got my revenge. I hope at the upcoming World and European Championships I can achieve the desired result."

Games winner, world and European champion Hidayat Heydarov noted that his final bout took place on a special day: "I won on a beautiful day. I stepped onto the mat to win a gold medal on Victory Day. And our National Anthem played on that day. I admit that in the first two matches the opponents were weak. The final was more difficult. Victory at the Islamic Solidarity Games should be the start of new successes."

The results of the Islamic Games require careful analysis to achieve high results at international competitions in the future.

The 7th Islamic Solidarity Games will be held in Malaysia.