The recently concluded Azerbaijan Wrestling Championship once again took place without the participation of women. This raised questions about when a full national championship in women’s wrestling will be organized and whether Azerbaijan has athletes capable of competing at the highest international level besides the legendary Mariya Stadnik.
Speaking to Idman.Biz, Olympic champion and head coach of the Azerbaijan women’s wrestling national team Togrul Askerov said that important groundwork is already being laid. According to him, national championships among junior girls have been held for the past two years, and there are several very promising athletes aged 14–16 coming through the younger age groups. Askerov expressed hope that a senior women’s national championship could be held in the near future, within the next two to three years.
When asked about potential leaders of the team, Askerov singled out several names. He noted that Zhala Aliyeva is already competitive at the international level, having won medals at senior European Championships, claimed the U23 World Championship title and twice triumphed at the Islamic Games. He also highlighted Gunay Gurbanova, Ruzanna Mammadova and Elnura Mammadova as wrestlers with significant potential, expressing confidence that Azerbaijan’s female wrestlers will achieve success at international competitions in the near future.
