Konul Aliyeva, who made history by becoming the first Azerbaijani female judoka to win a Grand Slam title, has spoken about her remarkable achievement, the challenges she faced on the tatami and her ambitions of competing at the Olympic Games.
In an exclusive interview with İdman.Biz, the judoka reflected on her historic victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, admitting that the final had started badly but that she never lost faith in her ability to turn the contest around.
"Although I was trailing by one yuko, I never lost confidence in myself. I believed I could change the course of the contest and win. I kept fighting until the very end, then scored a yuko and a waza-ari to take the lead.
"The moment I realised I had won, I felt overwhelming joy and pride. For me, this result was much more than just a medal. It was the reward for all the hard work, sacrifices and effort I had put into training," Aliyeva said.
The Azerbaijani judoka revealed that she was first congratulated by officials from the national judo federation, followed by her family, whose support has played an important role in her career.
"It was wonderful to feel their happiness. Their belief in me and their support mean so much. Moments like these remind you that behind every achievement are people who believe in you and stand by your side," she explained.
Aliyeva also acknowledged that her path to the final had been far from straightforward. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, she faced more decorated opponents – the Netherlands' Amber Gersjes and France's Melanie Legoux Clement.
"The quarter-final and semi-final were particularly important and demanding for me. In the quarter-final, I faced an opponent for the third time. I had lost to her in a previous tournament because of my own mistakes.
"This time, I was much better prepared. I had learned from that defeat and managed to win with a waza-ari.
"In the semi-final, I faced my opponent for the first time. My coaches had prepared a specific tactical plan, and I tried to follow their instructions on the tatami. In the end, I managed to win.
"Of course, every opponent deserves respect and serious preparation. But for me, what matters most is not the opponent's name or experience. It is believing in my own preparation, choosing the right tactics and staying calm throughout the contest," she stressed.
Looking back at her childhood and the beginning of her judo career, Aliyeva admitted that she had never imagined reaching such heights on the international stage.
"When I first started judo, I never even imagined that I could achieve major success in the future. Over time, my love for the sport grew, my ambitions became bigger, and I started working harder to achieve greater results.
"Today, becoming a Grand Slam champion is a source of immense pride for me. It also motivates me to set even bigger goals."
Asked what advice she would give her younger self, the Azerbaijani athlete delivered a message about perseverance and self-belief.
"I would tell myself never to give up, always believe in myself and never abandon my goals. There will be difficulties, and sometimes there will be defeats, but you must learn from every loss.
"The road to success requires patience, hard work and belief. Most importantly, never be afraid to follow your dreams," she said.
The historic gold medal has also strengthened Aliyeva's determination to reach the Olympic Games. According to the judoka, the victory has helped improve her position in the world rankings while giving her greater confidence in her ability to compete at the highest level.
"Competing at the Olympic Games is one of my biggest dreams. I know that achieving this goal will require enormous effort and that I will face strong competition in the tournaments ahead.
"My main objective now is not to be satisfied with this result, but to prepare even better for future competitions and continue improving my ranking.
"God willing, I will do everything I can to secure Olympic qualification and represent Azerbaijan with honour at the Olympic Games," Aliyeva concluded.
Her historic triumph in Abu Dhabi represents a major milestone for Azerbaijani women's judo and could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the country's ambitions on the international stage.
