"I went to this competition with an injury on my left wrist. Although I was treated, I was not fully recovered."
Ilham Zakiyev (+90 kg), the eight-time European champion in Para judo, told Idman.biz.
The winner of the Paralympic Games commented on his participation in the Grand Prix in Heidelberg, Germany. According to Zakiyev, who finished the competition with a bronze medal, his injury was renewed in the 1/4 finals: "My first encounter was with a Kazakh Para judoka. Then I came face to face with the Japanese I wrestled at the last Japanese Grand Prix. I injured both my wrists in the fight. I went to the semi-finals with a bandage, but because of my injury, I could not get the result I wanted. In the match for the 3rd place, I defeated the Mongolian athlete, whom I won in the world championship, by ippon. As a result, I strengthened my place in the ranking. I lost the gold medal only because of my injury."
He said that his main goal is the Paris-2024 Summer Paralympic Games: "I am preparing for this competition with all my might. I want to properly represent Azerbaijan in France and make our people happy."
It should be noted that the Heidelberg Grand Prix gave double rating points to the Paris-2024 Summer Paralympic Games.
Banuchichek Huseynli
Idman.biz
