Azerbaijani judoka Hidayat Heydarov has reacted to his defeat at the World Judo Championships in Baku.
As reported by İdman.Biz, the Olympic champion shared an emotional message on his Instagram account following his elimination from the tournament.
“It is hard to lose in your homeland. It is even harder to lose in front of you. I couldn’t make you happy today, but your love gave me strength. Thank you endlessly,” Heydarov wrote.
Competing in the 73 kg weight category, Heydarov was eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to Italy’s Giovanni Esposito on penalties.
The World Championships at the National Gymnastics Arena will conclude on October 11.
Azerbaijan have already claimed two medals at the tournament. Ahmad Yusifov won gold in the 60 kg category, while Rashid Mammadaliyev secured bronze at 73 kg.
