The Azerbaijani freestyle wrestlers, who successfully performed at the U-23 World Wrestling Championship held in Tirana, the capital of Albania, have returned to Azerbaijan.
According to Idman.biz, the Azerbaijan freestyle wrestling team won two silver and three bronze medals in the tournament and took the 3rd place in the team score.
The team members were welcomed at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport by officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the coaches and athletes of Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation and relatives of national team members. The head coach and prize winners shared their impressions of the World Championship.
Khetag Gazyumov (head coach)
"The performance of the national team can be considered successful. In any case, coming 3rd in the World Championship is a good result. However, the number of our medals could be more. We expected medals in 61, 74 and 86 kg. We have to work harder to win the gold medal. After some rest, we will resume training. The World Military Championship and Azerbaijan Championship are waiting for us. A ranking tournament will be held in January. In February, we will participate in the European Championship, and in April-May, we will participate in the qualification tournaments that give a license to the Olympics. After the Azerbaijan Championship, we will determine the preparation plan for next year, who will participate in which competitions."
Ashraf Ashirov (second in the world)
"We prepared very seriously for the World Championship. We had a training camp in Baku and Vladikavkaz. After returning from military service, this was my first competition. I really wanted to win. I wanted to present the gold medal to my fellow soldiers. Instead, I got silver medal. I would like to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation for supporting us in preparing for this competition, as well as the management of MOIK, where I continue to serve. I am also grateful to the trainers of the national team and my personal trainer, Nazim Alijanov."
Ziraddin Bayramov (world runner-up)
"I thank the coaching staff of the national team. I had a surgery last year. After this operation, I won a silver medal in the first prestigious competition I participated in. Thank you for that. Hopefully, I will prepare better in the future and try to become a champion. I fought against a Russian wrestler for the first time. Apparently, I still have weaknesses. I have worked harder in training, and from now on I will focus only on the gold medal."
It should be noted that Ziraddin Bayramov (65 kg), Ashraf Ashirov (79 kg) won silver, Kanan Heybatov (70 kg), Abduljalil Shabanov (92 kg) and Vahit Galayev (125 kg) won bronze medals at the World Championship.
Idman.biz
