A truly rare event occurred at the Azerbaijan Wrestling Championship, which is currently being held at the Baku Sports Palace. In the final of the Greco-Roman wrestling competition in the 97 kg weight category, two brothers, Magomed and Murad Akhmadiyev, faced each other.
In combat sports practice, athlete brothers are usually separated into different weight categories, even if they are twins. The purpose is clear: to ensure that both compete at full strength. And yet, such an unusual situation unfolded right at the national championship.
Whose side would the coach favor if he had trained both brothers? And how could he make them fight at full intensity? With these questions, Idman.Biz approached the Akhmadiyev brothers’ personal coach, Samed Chopsiev, shortly before the final.
“Off the mat, they are brothers. On the mat, they are opponents and must determine who is stronger. That was the first thing I tried to explain to them. Let the most deserving win. I warned them right away that there could be no concessions to each other. The winner must be the stronger one, not the one who needs the victory more.
As for personal sympathies, honestly, it is very difficult for me to choose between the brothers whom I have been coaching since they were five years old. And not only for me, but for the entire Balakan region where they were born and raised. There, they are not distinguished individually and are simply called the Akhmadiyev brothers,” Chopsiev said.
We should add that the final bout was fought in a very close contest, with the younger and more decorated brother Murad defeating the elder brother Magomed.
