A STANDOUT PERFORMANCE AT 35

The Azerbaijan Judo Federation traditionally concluded the current year with its national championship. More than 200 judokas competed over two days in individual categories and one day in the team event. In terms of organisational level, the Azerbaijani championship can confidently be compared to an international 'Grand Slam' tournament.

From injuries to a standout show

Despite the high level of competition, the absence of titled athletes was somewhat disappointing. In the under 73 kg category, Rashid Mammadaliyev could not take to the tatami due to injury, while Eljan Hajiyev (under 90 kg) watched from the sidelines as he had not yet completed his recovery period. Due to overload during the year, Olympic champions Hidayat Heydarov (under 73 kg) and Zelim Kotsoyev (under 100 kg) missed the competition. In the under 66 kg category, Ruslan Pashayev also declined to participate in the final event of the year due to a packed schedule.

Nevertheless, even without Olympic and world champions, virtually every weight category featured uncompromising contests. The fierce competition at the national championship demonstrated that breaking into the national team is no easy task. Balabey Aghayev's victory in the under 60 kg category confirmed his leadership—his win in the final against Murad Muradli strengthened his position in the national team line-up for the coming year.

One of the most tense tournaments was in the under 66 kg category. The fact that the young, talented judoka Rashad Yelkhyev had to settle for bronze only emphasised the level of competition. Nazir Talybov from 'Judo Club 2012' secured victory in the final against Huseyn Allahyarov and claimed the top step of the podium.

In the under 73 kg weight class, the championship was won by Kamran Suleymanov from 'Sərhədçi'. In the absence of Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov, his victory will be a topic of discussion for the coaches. It is expected that Suleymanov will be given the chance to prove himself in several international events in the new year.

Vusal Galandarzade's championship (under 81 kg) deserves special mention. He confidently conducted all his matches, executed techniques clearly, and caused considerable problems for his opponents. His victory over Suleyman Shukurov in the final earned him a well-deserved championship title.

In the under 90 kg category, the final was contested by Mammadrza Hajizade and Aslan Kotsoyev. The brother of Olympic champion Zelim Kotsoyev could not offer serious resistance. Hajizade, who preferred an open, attacking style of fighting from the first seconds, won the gold medal. Aslan Kotsoyev took second place.

In the under 100 kg category, spectators witnessed a standout performance by Elmar Gasimov—an Olympic medallist who, in 2009, at the European Youth Championships in Armenia, won 'gold' for Azerbaijan. The vast experience of the 35-year-old athlete enabled him to achieve victory. However, the final bout against Ajdar Baghirov showed that with such physical conditioning, performing successfully at the international level would be extremely difficult.

Usually, in the over 100 kg category, there is a clear favourite, which reduces interest in the other matches. This year, however, the heavyweights displayed the long-awaited rivalry. The preparation for the tournament by Kenan Nasibov, Jamal Hamzatkhanov, Jamal Feyziyev, and Subhan Ahadov was a pleasant surprise. In the final, Kenan Nasibov overcame Jamal Hamzatkhanov to become champion.

The Azerbaijan Judo Federation once again organised team competitions this year. They were held at the Baku Sports Palace on the final day of the event. Among women, victory went to representatives of 'Şuşa UGİM'. 'Silver' went to 'Umbayev Sport Club', and 'bronze' to the first team of the 'Neftçi' sports club. Among men, athletes from 'Kanokan-TT' became champions. The club 'Azəri-Cüdo' came second, while 'Sərhədçi' and 'Atilla' shared third place.

2026 will be the year of the Olympians' return

Holding the championship allows coaches to select worthy candidates for the national team. In 2026, Baku will once again host the World Judo Championships. Therefore, organising the national championship to the standard of an international tournament deserves the highest praise. Head coach of the Azerbaijani men's and women's national teams, Richard Trautmann, agrees with this. In an interview with Region Plus, he said: "In my view, the competition format is at a very high level. The organisation and atmosphere here are virtually the same as at Grand Prix or 'Grand Slam' tournaments. I am familiar with many national championships and can say that very few countries conduct their competitions at such a level. Next year, Azerbaijan will host the world championship, and this kind of organisation is an excellent preparatory stage. I might add that we have been hosting the 'Grand Slam' tournament for many years, and everyone is always satisfied with its organisation.

This year we won a record number of medals. But after the 2024 Paris Olympics, it has been a challenging year. The significant attention focused on the Olympic champions in the country does not go unnoticed in terms of their physical condition. Hidayat Heydarov and Zelim Kotsoyev performed successfully at the Islamic Solidarity Games and won 'gold'. Nevertheless, 2026 will be their year of return—they need to regain their former form. Based on the championship results, we can say we have worthy athletes for the national team. But to achieve success on the international stage, they need to prepare at an even higher level."

In conclusion, we note that the World Judo Championships will take place from October 4 to 11, 2026, at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku.