TARGETING A GOLD MEDAL

As of 2026, the national Greco-Roman wrestling team will be under the leadership of a new head coach. The Azerbaijani Wrestling Federation has entered into a contractual agreement with Mohammed Bena, who has a proven track record of success with a total of four gold medals at the Olympic Games. Nuraddin Rajabov has been appointed senior coach of the national team. The coaching staff also includes Rovshan Bayramov, Sabah Shariati, Bahruz Khazretipur and Rasul Jazini Dorche.

The Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestling team, which is mainly made up of local athletes, has been coached primarily by foreign specialists. The Federation has once again elected to place its trust in an overseas expert.

It is important to note that under Bena's leadership, Iran's team achieved a remarkable success by winning three gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics, setting a new record in the history of their national wrestling. With this specialist, the neighbouring country's team secured one gold and one bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In 2011, Bena was honoured with the title of World's Best Coach by FILA (now UWW, United World Wrestling) and was awarded the prestigious "Courage" Order in Iran. He is one of the most successful and respected figures in the history of Greco-Roman wrestling. His approach is systematic, disciplined, and incorporates tactical thinking and mental resilience.

In this edition, we present an interview with head coach Mohammed Bena, who participated in the training preparation of the Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestling team.

"We were a little surprised by your appointment. When were you offered to work with the Azerbaijani national team?"

"I received an offer to become head coach of the Azerbaijani team at the end of last year. We have reached an agreement earlier this year."

"How would you say the work of the previous coaching staff was assessed?"

"I really value the work of coaches, and I'm so grateful for everything they do. They are my colleagues and all worked so hard for the benefit of the team."

"Azerbaijan is a well-known name in the wrestling world. Which Azerbaijani athletes you've had the pleasure of competing against? Can you think of anyone in particular who you'd like to see this happen to?"

"When I was head coach in Iran, we had some great battles with the Azerbaijani wrestlers. Over the past 20 years, one of the most challenging and competitive bouts I witnessed was between Rovshan Bayramov and Hamid Suriya."

"It's been a while since our Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestlers have been on the top spot of the podium. What do you think is the problem?"

"I'm so proud of our wrestlers. They're all amazing and they're in with a real shot at those medals. But it's really important to have a proper system and planning."

"I'm sure you've watched the Azerbaijani championship, haven't you? What stood out to you?"

"Yes, I watched the senior championship. I've always been a big fan of Azerbaijani wrestling, to be honest. I really like your technique! Even now, when I watch the wrestlers, I can see they have it in them. As I said before, my main goal is to achieve that long-awaited gold medal. That would solve the current issue."

"Who might join the team next?"

"The senior roster doesn't change that much from year to year, which is great because it means more of the same friendly faces for you to get to know. Take Eldaniz Azizli, for instance. He's a four-time world champion in the 55 kg weight class. We'd love him to keep competing for as long as he feels fit, so we'll make sure not to replace him too soon. We're also planning to prepare two or three wrestlers so that, after Eldaniz leaves, another leader can emerge. This way, we won't be left in difficulty after his departure. This is something that's not just for him, but for anyone dealing with weight issues too."

“What problems do you see in modern wrestling?”

“Effective wrestling requires three conditions: physical, psychological and tactical-technical preparation. Azerbaijani wrestlers have high tactical and technical proficiency. Currently, we are working on physical and psychological aspects to create a balance. To become a champion, one must be 100% prepared. For instance, why did Rovshan Bayramov take second place at the Olympics? Possibly due to inadequate preparation, which prevented him from winning gold. Whether it was Hasrat Jafarov or other Olympic participants—each had certain weaknesses. We strive to prepare our athletes comprehensively.”

“For many years, success in Greco-Roman wrestling has been associated with Azerbaijani athletes. Should we expect foreign wrestlers in some weight categories?”

“We prioritise local wrestlers. But there is reality: heavy weight categories have always been difficult. For years Sabah Shariati competed in heavyweight classes and brought medals to the team. Then there were Beka Kandelaki and others. We want to fill this gap with local athletes. The Iranian team faced a similar problem before; thanks to a proper programme and training plan, they resolved it. Now Iran is among the top countries for heavyweight achievements. They have three wrestlers who win every competition they enter. We are putting maximum effort into achieving similar results here.”

“Thank you for the interview. We wish you success in your work.”

“Thank you as well. The role of the press in developing sports cannot be overestimated.”