“Azerbaijan is considered one of the best judo nations because it has produced Olympic and world champions.”
This was stated in an interview with Report news agency by European champion and world silver medalist, Serbian judoka Aleksandar Kukolj, Idman.biz reports.
Within the framework of the European Judo Hopes Tournament held in Azerbaijan, the expert who conducted seminars for young athletes highly praised the development of judo in the country: “Azerbaijan is already considered one of the best judo nations because it has produced Olympic and world champions. As far as I know, in the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, Elnur Mammadli won Azerbaijan’s first gold medal. Last year, at the Olympics in Paris, they won two gold medals. This speaks volumes.”
He also emphasized that he won his first Grand Slam silver medal in Azerbaijan: “I won my first Grand Slam medal 10 years ago in Azerbaijan. It was a silver medal. I have many friends in Azerbaijan. A month ago, I conducted a masterclass in Belgrade. Azerbaijani judokas Hidayat Heydarov and Zelym Kotsoiev also participated in that seminar as coaches and trainers.”
The international tournament organized by the European Judo Union is being held at the Absheron Olympic Sports Complex and will conclude on July 27.
Idman.biz
