By Ramin Naziyev, Baku. Exclusively to VK
Today, Azerbaijan is perceived as a sport-loving country. Baku has proved to be able to conduct any international competition at the highest level, be it a continental or world championship. It is no accident that in recent years international sports federations believe that Azerbaijan is an example of a good organizer of international sporting events. And this year was no exception. In July, the Baku Tennis Cup and international professional tennis tournament were held. In August, Azerbaijan hosted two games of the European Basketbal lChampionship. On August 12 the team of Azerbaijan met with the national team of Albania, and on August 21 with the team of Romania.
Another major success was the victory of the women's volleyball team "Rabita" at the World Club Championship, held in October in Qatar. In the finals "Rabita" played against the Turkish team "Vakifbank". These very teams met in the Istanbul Champions League final in March, where the Turks won (0-3). This time the Azerbaijani volleyball club "Rabita" won in the finals of the world club championship against Turkey's "Vakifbank" with a score of 3:0.
Azerbaijani wrestlers also pleased their fans.In September, at the last Istanbul World Championship in Wrestling, Azerbaijani Greco-Roman, freestyle and female wrestlers won eight awards (two gold, one silver and five bronze) and seven Olympic licenses.In the classic style of fighting Rovshan Bayramov became a champion in the weight category of 55 kg, while Saman Tahmasib got a license in the category of 84kg. The captain of the Azerbaijani national team for women's wrestling, Maria Stadnik (48kg), got silver. The final competitor of Stadnik was Hitomi Ibar from Japan. The meeting ended with the victory of Ibar - 3:2, 0:1, 0:1. Thus, Stadnik won the silver medal and took a single license for this sport. In the overall women's national team of Azerbaijan got one silver (Stadnik) and two bronze medals (Patimat Bagomedova and Sona Ahmadli).
For the second year in a row Azerbaijan won the gold medal in the Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling categories. In 2010, the hero was Khetag Gazyumov, while in 2011 it was Sharif Sharifov (84 kg). Also in this championship Azerbaijani wrestlers won three bronze medals and Olympic licenses - Jabrail Hasanov (66 kg), Ashraf Aliyev (75 kg) and Jamaleddin Magomedov (120 kg). In general, Azerbaijan is fourth in the number of licenses in this tournament, behind Russia, Kazakhstan and the USA.
The Azerbaijani national chess team failed to retain the European title. the country's grand masters returned from the European Team Championship in Greece with silver medals. The team included Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, Vugar Gashimov, Eltadzh Safarli and Gadir Guseinov. First place was taken by the German chess players, the Hungarians came third.
Azerbaijani weightlifters on the results of two championships of 2011 came in only 12th place. This discipline is traditionally among those that bring medals at the Olympics, but so far Azerbaijani sportsmen have not got any awards. It is hoped that the situation will change in London, especially given the success of Valentin Khristov (56 kg) who took bronze last time.
In 2011, the Azerbaijani national football team participated in the qualifying round of the European Championship. For the first time in its history the team in their group scored 7 points. Their rivals in the group were Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Austria and Kazakhstan. The home victories over Turkey (1-0) and Kazakhstan (3:2) were particularly interesting, as well as the draw with Belgium (1:1). As a result, the German coach of the national team, Berti Vogts, renewed his contract with the Football Federation of Azerbaijan until 2014. In the national championship of 2011, "Neftchi" got gold, silver went to the club "Hezer"of Lenkarani while bronze went to AZAL Baku.
In 2011, the Azerbaijani Football Association celebrated the centenary of Azerbaijani football. The ceremony was held on June 6 at the "Buta Palace". It was attended by the head of FIFA Sepp Blatter and the head of UEFA Michel Platini, as well as numerous heads of international football bodies and representatives of national associations. Among the guests at the anniversary were also veterans of the English and German football - Sir Geoff Hurst and Hans Tilkowski. In the World Cup finals in 1966 English goal striker Geoff Hurst scored in the German goal defended by Tilkowski. In celebration of the anniversary , Ilham Aliyev and his wife, together with Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, took part in the ceremony of laying the first stone of a new football stadium. This stadium will seat 65,000 spectators and will be one of the best sports facilities in Baku.
In 2011 Azerbaijani athletes received 28 trips to the Olympics.
1. Rowing - Men
Alexander Alexandrov - single
Rowing - Women
Natalia Mustafayeva - single
2. Boxing
Elvin Mamishzade up to 52 kg
Geybatulla Hajiyev up to 64 kg
Soltan Migitinov up to 75 kg
Teymur Mamedov up to 91 kg
Magomedrasul Majidov over 91 kg
3 Wrestling
Jabrail Hasanov to 66 kg
Ashraf Aliyev to 74 kg
Sharif Sharifov to 84 kg
4. Greco-Roman wrestling
Rovshan Bayramov to 55 kg
Salman Tahmasib to 84 kg
5. Female wrestling
Maria Stadnik up to 48 kg
6. Cycling - Women
Elena Chalih - separate race
7. Free callisthenics
Aliya Garayeva -individual all-round
8. Kayak and canoe - Men
Valentin Demyanenko - Canoe Single 1000 m
Sergei Bezugly, Maxim Prokopenko - Canoe 1000 m twos.
9. Athletics - Men
Dmitry Marshin - hammer throw
Athletics - Women
Layesh Abdullaeva - 3,000 meter hurdles
10. Shooting -Women
Irada Ashumova pistol (25 m).
11. Taekwondo - Men
Ramin Azizov up to 80 kg
Taekwondo - Women
Farida Azizova - up to 67 kg
