Azerbaijan wins silver in zurkhaneh at Islamic Solidarity Games

Azerbaijani athletes won the silver medals in zurkhaneh team competitions at the Islamic Games in Baku. Orhan Khanlarov, Tural Aliyev, Mammadli Salamov, Rufat Gulaliyev and Khayyam Orujov represented Azerbaijan in the finals. The first place in the finals was taken by wrestlers from Iran.

As Orkhan Khanlarov told to a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, the Iranian athletes, as it was expected, became the most serious rivals at the tournament.

Wrestlers from Iraq and Afghanistan also demonstrated good results, Orhan Khanlarov shared his feelings.

Khanlarov was a freestyle wrestler, and after than he switched to zurkhaneh.

"As in any sport, endurance and perseverance are necessary for zurkhaneh, you also need to hear a rival as music,” the wrestler said.

Khayyam Orujov, in his turn, said that the second place in such uneasy competitions can be fully regarded as a victory.

"For me, this medal is like the gold medal. We were training intensively for many months, a lot of work was done, so for me it's all the same - the silver or gold medal. The gold medal could be better, but, thank God, the silver one is good too, " the wrestler said.

He also noted that the Islamic games in Baku are very well organized, therefore it is very interesting to participate in them. ”Not only I think so, all our guests and athletes say so.Thanks to everyone, who works in the organization, they organized the competitions very well, "Orujov added.

As it often happens with zurkhaneh wrestlers, they are former freestyle wrestlers.’’ I was a freestylee wrestler, and our president, Khanlar Gurbanov, invited me to this sport, I practiced a little and started to love this sport, because in this sport there is a rhythm, music that inspires the athlete. In two or three years I was already a member of the national team, then I became a captain. Now I'm the captain of the Azerbaijani team. We always take prizes in all competitions, " the wrestler said, adding that zurkhaneh is not just a sport, but a fighter’s  philosophy.

"We will continue to train and prepare for new competitions, the European Championship is ahead,’’ the wrestler concluded.