Olympic champion reflects on Azerbaijan’s performance at the European Championships.
“The performance of our judokas impressed me,” said Olympic judo champion Nazim Huseynov in a statement to Idman.biz, evaluating Team Azerbaijan’s showing at the European Judo Championships held in Podgorica, Montenegro.
The former national team coach emphasized that although Azerbaijan didn’t secure a gold medal, the judokas still delivered a strong performance:
“No gold doesn’t mean the team underperformed. For instance, if Ahmed Yusifov (60 kg) hadn’t been caught in a painful hold against France’s Luka Mkheidze, he might have ended up as the champion.
Rashid Mammadaliyev (73 kg) also showcased his potential. Georgian judoka Tato Grigalashvili was clearly cautious of Zelim Tckaev (81 kg), which is why he celebrated his win so intensely. I believe there was no real throw—Tckaev went for a move, and Grigalashvili’s reaction led to an ippon. Had Tckaev reached the final, I’m confident he would’ve become champion.”
Huseynov also shared high hopes for Olympic champion Zelym Kotsoiev (100 kg):
“If he keeps this form, I believe he can become a double Olympic champion. He’s only 26, and we need that level of success.”
However, he raised concerns about how the sport is being officiated:
“Murad Fatiyev (90 kg) was unfairly penalized. He shouldn’t have been warned like that. Judo has become more of a business now—referees issue warnings as soon as someone grabs a sleeve. Ushangi Kokauri (100+ kg) still performs well, but age is catching up with him. He’s made it to several semifinals but keeps finishing in 3rd or 5th.”
Looking ahead to the World Championships, Huseynov remained optimistic:
“I’m satisfied with the results. This is the first time we’ve brought home five medals from a European Championship. I believe this time we’ll crown at least one world champion.”
Team Azerbaijan finished 10th overall at the European Championships, earning 1 silver and 4 bronze medals.
Aytaj Sahed
Idman.biz
