At the recent European Shooting Championship in France, Azerbaijani marksmen Niyaz Agazade and Regina Meftakhetdinova won a bronze medal in the mixed team skeet event. In total, Azerbaijani shooters earned three medals at the championship.
This is Regina Meftakhetdinova’s first medal at the European Championships. She is the daughter of legendary Azerbaijani athlete Zemfira Meftakhetdinova, Olympic champion at Sydney 2000 and bronze medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games in trap shooting. It’s worth noting that Zemfira currently serves as the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.
In a conversation with Idman.biz, the renowned athlete shared her reaction to her daughter’s success at the continental championship.
— Did you watch your daughter’s performance at the European Championship?
— Of course, we watched it on TV. We were very nervous. It’s always stressful to root for an athlete, and in this case, it wasn’t just any athlete, it was our daughter.
— This was her first medal at the European Championships, right?
— Yes, it was her first medal at this level. Previously, Regina and Niyaz Agazade came very close to the podium but were always a bit unlucky. This time, thank God, everything worked out. Regina also came close to earning a qualification spot for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. We have wonderful young athletes who work very hard, and I believe they will achieve even greater results in the future.
— What did you feel when you saw your daughter become a European medalist?
— (laughs) Those are a mother’s feelings. Of course, I felt joy. Parents are always happy when their children succeed. Watching your own child compete is very tough. I can only imagine how difficult it was for Regina’s coach, Emil Jafarov.
May God grant success to all our children. I support not only my daughter but all Azerbaijani athletes. I hope our sports continue to grow and achieve success. I believe our shooters will keep winning on the international stage, as they have already shown in France.
— Do you think Regina will be able not only to follow in your footsteps but even surpass your achievements?
— This is sports, anything is possible. The kids are working hard, and the results at the European Championship are proof of that. As for the future, time will tell. We’re all working toward a common goal. I’m confident that everything will work out. The Federation is providing all the necessary support, and the athletes are giving their all.
— The new Olympic cycle has already started. How would you assess the beginning of this cycle for Azerbaijani sports?
— If we evaluate the first half of the year, it’s been successful. The year isn’t over yet, and I believe our athletes will perform even better in the second half.
Let’s hope everything goes well. I don’t work as a coach, but I’m always ready to help with advice and share my experience. But at competitions, it all depends on the athletes themselves. No one else can do it for them, everyone shapes their own destiny (smiles).
Teymur Tushiyev
Idman.biz
