Azerbaijani judokas, who won a historic victory at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, have returned to their homeland.
As Idman.biz reports, Olympic champions Hidayat Heydarov (73 kg) and Zelym Kotsoiev (100 kg) were welcomed by representatives of Azerbaijan Judo Federation, sports community, fans and family members at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
Heydarov, who joined the Olympics from the Elimination Round of 16, defeated Israeli athlete Tohar Butbul in the first match, and Canadian Artur Margelido in the quarterfinal by ippon. He won the title of Olympic champion by defeating Kosovar Akil Gjakova in the semifinals and Frenchman John Benjamin Gaba in the final.
Zelym Kotsoiev, who started the competition from the Elimination Round of 16, faced Polish Pyotr Kuchera in the first match. Our European and world champion, who defeated his opponent by ippon, qualified for the quafinals. At this stage, the athlete, who defeated the representative of Israel, Peter Palchik, qualified for the semifinals. Here, he defeated Uzbekistan's Muzaffarbek Turoboyev with a vase-ari and advanced to the finals. In the decisive round, Azerbaijan's representative, who disappointed Georgian Ilya Sulamanidze with an ippon, became the Olympic champion.
The last time the Azerbaijani national judo team won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 with the participation of Elnur Mammadli (73 kg).
Banuchichek Huseynli
Idman.biz
