Interview of Elchin Eminov, a 6-time European champion of the Azerbaijani national team, on the Idman.biz website
- You won the title of European champion for the 6th time in the European Championship held in Istanbul. How would you rate the race?
- The European Championship was held at a high level. There is great interest in this sport in Turkiye. About 1000 athletes participated in the tournament. We mainly gave a chance to young people here. Because next year, the youth world championship awaits our team in Brunei.
- Who was the hardest fight against?
- The race was difficult for me. I had just returned from the world championship in the USA. I have played in 4 prestigious tournaments since August. All my opponents in the European Championship were strong. In the final, there was an intense battle against the local athlete. The first round went head-to-head. I was only 2 points ahead of him. In the second round, when I tried to grab my leg, my kick hit him in the jaw and he was knocked out. He defeated the athlete from Armenia on the way to the final. Although I wanted to meet him, I was not lucky. The main thing is that I became the European champion for the 6th time.
- We informed you that you participated in 4 tournaments after August. Do you consider 2023 to be a successful year for you?
- Yes. I have been waiting for a long time to win a medal at the World Championship. I lost 17 kg before 4 consecutive races. It is very gratifying to win a bronze medal at the World Championship and get a license for the World Cup to be held in Australia next year. In the end, I called the European championship.
- You are already 32 years old. How many years will you fight?
- I don't think of ending my career yet. I am focused on the upcoming World Cup. After that, the World Cup will be held again in 2025. If the coaches and the federation show confidence, I want to fight there too.
- Wushu is not a specific sport for our country. But it is quite popular in Azerbaijan. What do you think is the main reason for this?
- Although it is not an Olympic sport, there is a lot of interest in wushu in the world. Because we are a warlike people, we love war more. There are hand and foot strikes, and wrestling tricks. As our young people understand this type, they are more enthusiastic. It is very gratifying that in 2026 wushu was included in the program of the Youth Olympic Games.
- What is the most memorable medal for you?
- My most memorable medal is the silver one I won at the Islamic Solidarity Games held in Baku in 2017. The reason was that a Kyrgyz athlete prevented me from rising to the podium at the 2015 World Championship held in Indonesia. In 2017, I defeated him in my first fight in Baku. In that tournament, I also won against an Indonesian who was one of the strongest in my weight class. That's why the silver medal I won is the most memorable.
Emin Aga
Idman.biz
