AT HOME WITHOUT GOLD

The Azerbaijani capital has successfully hosted a prestigious international sporting tournament once again—the U-17 World Wrestling Championships. The event, which took place from 27 July to 2 August, attracted a record number of participating nations to the National Gymnastics Arena in recent years.

Brilliant organisation and modest results

Azerbaijan successfully hosted the U-17 World Championships for the second time in 14 years. Despite its excellent organisational skills, the country was only able to achieve modest results. A total of 663 athletes from 60 countries participated. In terms of organisation, the tournament received overwhelmingly positive reviews. This sport has a long and distinguished history in the country and is extremely popular.

Competitors, including the head coach of the Armenian national team and his players, spoke highly of Azerbaijan's hospitality and the high standard of organisation in interviews with the local media.

Despite the positive conditions and the enthusiastic support from the stands, the Azerbaijani wrestlers did not perform to their usual high standards, and failed to win a single gold medal.

In comparison to the Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling teams, the women's team did not meet expectations. The Azerbaijani women, led by the renowned athlete Maria Stadnik, did not win any medals. Unfortunately, none of the competitors were able to secure a position on the podium. It is clear that this disappointing result highlights the necessity for a comprehensive performance review.

Following the freestyle wrestling team's success in securing three gold medals at the recent European Championships, the bar has been set high for future performances. However, the squad, led by the renowned Azerbaijani wrestling legend Haji Aliyev, did not meet expectations. It is challenging to find the appropriate words when seven out of ten team members lose in their first bouts. One of the most recent European champions was in attendance: Huseyn Rzazade, who competes in the 48 kg category. Following his opponent's advancement to the finals, he was presented with the opportunity to compete for the bronze medal. However, he was successful in winning his first consolation bout. It is of great concern that the team has suffered seven defeats in the opening round. This is an issue that must be addressed immediately and thoroughly.

European champion Ibrahim Hasanov (51 kg) was instrumental in preventing a complete collapse of the freestyle wrestling team. A graduate of the Ganja wrestling school, he was the only member of the team to reach the final and contest the decisive bout for a medal. Unfortunately, his stamina proved to be a limiting factor, and he concluded the tournament on the second step of the podium. Consequently, the freestyle wrestling team amassed a mere 28 points, resulting in a 13th-place finish in the team standings.

It would be inappropriate to attribute the freestyle wrestling team's substandard performance to the efforts of the recently appointed head coach. The competition in Baku represented Hajji Aliyev's inaugural test as a coach. This seasoned wrestler, a multiple world and European champion who was appointed to the post just three months ago, requires a certain amount of time.

Modest consolation from Greco-Roman wrestlers

The Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestling team finished the World Championships with three silver and three bronze medals. Ali Javadli (45 kg), Abdurrahman Huseynli (51 kg) and Isfahan Hasanov (80 kg) were awarded silver medals, whilst Omar Salmanov (48 kg), Elmir Charkazov (60 kg) and Orkhan Khabibli (65 kg) won bronze. Consequently, the national team amassed a total of 107 points, securing a second-place finish in the team standings, narrowly surpassed only by the Russian wrestlers.

Securing second place in the team standings and amassing a total of six medals under the leadership of the newly appointed national team head coach, Rafig Huseynov, a seasoned competitor who earned bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, is a testament to the team's dedication and resilience. However, the absence of a gold medal at the home championships means that the national team's performance cannot be described as a success.

It is noteworthy that in 2023 and 2024, the Greco-Roman wrestlers achieved two gold medals each, whereas last year they secured one.

The Azerbaijan team's main hope for a gold medal was the reigning European champion, Ali Javadli, who reached the final. In the decisive bout against the American Rylan Vax, he demonstrated clear dominance, achieving a substantial lead of 5–0. However, following a second takedown conceded to his opponent, Javadli was unable to mount an effective defence and was defeated 5–13. A loss by such a margin in a pivotal match, where he had the advantage, necessitates thorough analysis and discussion of the errors made with the athletes.

It is not always possible to win

Rafig Huseynov, head coach of the junior Greco-Roman wrestling team, stated that he was pleased with the team's performance at the World Championships.

"I am proud of my team and pleased with every athlete. Regardless of whether they were awarded medals or not, I have personally witnessed their dedication, hard work and self-sacrifice over the last six months. It is important to ensure that athletes who did not win medals do not become disheartened. In the field of sport, it is not feasible to achieve victory in every instance. In some cases, a loss can serve to strengthen an athlete's resolve and encourage them to enhance their preparation for subsequent competitions. While we did not achieve a gold medal, I am overall satisfied with my team's performance. I believe these athletes have the potential to win medals for our country in the future, as part of the senior national team," he said.