"My biggest mistake in the final was failing to make the right tactical adjustment at the right moment and rushing too much."
Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestler Elmir Aliyev, who claimed the silver medal at the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, made the statement in an exclusive interview with İdman.Biz.
According to Aliyev, his victories on the way to the final had strengthened his confidence and belief that he could become world champion.
"Everything went according to plan until the final. I achieved the results I expected and put up a worthy fight against my opponents. In all three bouts, as always, I believed in myself and in my ability to win," he said.
However, the Azerbaijani wrestler admitted that finishing second was far from the result he had hoped for.
"I am not the kind of athlete who is satisfied with a silver medal. My goal is always to become a champion. This time, I was also very close to winning the title, and I believed I would take gold. Unfortunately, it didn't happen," Aliyev explained.
The 60kg Greco-Roman wrestler was also asked whether the disappointing performances of other Azerbaijani wrestlers on the same day had affected him psychologically.
"I would have liked every member of our national team to win and perform successfully, just as I did in my earlier bouts. Unfortunately, in sport, we cannot always achieve the results we want. That was the case this time as well," he noted.
"I want all my teammates to succeed, and I wish each of them victories in future competitions," Aliyev concluded.
The Azerbaijani wrestler reached the final of the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas but suffered a 13-4 defeat against Kazakhstan's Aibek Aitbekov, ultimately securing the silver medal.
Despite missing out on gold, Aliyev's performance earned Azerbaijan a place on the podium in the 60kg Greco-Roman category.
