Arif Abdullayev, the head coach of Azerbaijan's U-20 freestyle wrestling national team, gave an interview to the official website of the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation.
According to Idman.biz, Abdullayev shared his thoughts on the season's performance and future plans.
- The season for the U-20 age group has ended. How would you evaluate your team's performance in 2024?
- Overall, I consider it satisfactory. For the third time, we became European champions in the team ranking. We secured 1 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze medal. However, we could have performed better at the World Championship. Some of our wrestlers didn’t compete to their full potential. In the end, we won 1 silver and 2 bronze medals, finishing 5th in the team rankings.
- There were some notable changes in the lineup at the World Championship.
- Yes, one of our top athletes, Vasif Baghirov (57 kg), who was the runner-up in the European Championships and a world and European champion among cadets, sustained a leg injury shortly before the World Championship. After consulting with the doctors, we decided not to risk a more severe injury, so we did not take Vasif to the World Championship.
- Usually, Azerbaijan is one of the favorites in lighter weight categories. However, this time we won medals in heavier categories. Was there a specific reason for this?
- As I mentioned, Vasif couldn’t participate due to injury. Jamal Abbasov (61 kg) transitioned to the U-20 age group this year. He hasn’t fully adapted physically to this age category yet, although he won a silver medal at the European Championship. However, he wasn’t entirely ready for the World Championship. He still has two more years to compete at the junior level, and we will work on improving his physical fitness and endurance. Even though he didn’t win a medal, I’d like to highlight Aykhan Abdullazada’s (65 kg) performance. He was leading 6-0 in his match against an Iranian opponent but eventually lost. I’d say it was a lack of confidence that cost him the victory. He tried to protect the score, but it didn’t work out, likely due to a lack of competitive experience.
- After a long break, Aganazar Novruzov (74 kg) returned to the big competition stage and performed well. Did you expect this from him?
- Yes, we did. Aganazar was previously a bronze medalist at the European and World Championships among cadets. Later, he went into military service. This year, we tested him in three competitions. He performed well in two traditional tournaments held in Russia. His physical indicators and endurance are clearly visible. He narrowly lost in the semifinals of the World Championship to an American wrestler, but he defeated a Russian wrestler in the bronze medal match.
- Can we expect immediate results from wrestlers who move up to the senior category, or will it take some time?
- Wrestlers like Aykhan Abdullazade, Sadig Mustafazada, and Ramik Heybatov could deliver results in the U-23 age group. However, in the senior category, competition is much tougher, with strong athletes leading each weight class. In this regard, the UWW’s creation of the U-23 age group was a great decision. It prevents young wrestlers from being lost when moving up from juniors and allows them to continue developing in the U-23 category before fully transitioning to seniors.
- Starting next year, wrestlers born in 2007 will compete under your leadership. Are there any specific athletes you’d like to highlight?
- During the summer, we held a training camp in Khachmaz alongside our U-17 national team. While we focused on physical preparation, they worked on tactical and technical training. We have identified some talented wrestlers. Next year, the main selection will be at the U-20 Azerbaijani Championship. Even if some of these 2007-born wrestlers, who won medals at the European and World Championships among cadets this year, don’t place at the national championships, we will keep them under close observation and involve them in the training process.
- Competition in freestyle wrestling is increasing year by year worldwide. What steps need to be taken to keep up with this competition?
- Previously, selection tournaments like the AGF Cup and Hunar Meydani were held, which made it easier for us to form the team. The more our wrestlers participate in competitions and gain experience, the higher their chances of success will be.
Idman.biz
