Arseniy Djioyev: “Azerbaijan is my second home”

December 9, 2025

Interview with freestyle wrestling world bronze medallist Arseniy Djioyev:

– How did you get into wrestling?
– I came to wrestling by following in my older brother’s footsteps. My father used to take him to training. I would play in the gym. Gradually, I realized that this is what I dreamed of, and then I understood that wrestling was what I should choose.

– You have been a member of the Azerbaijani national team since 2023. How did choosing Azerbaijan affect your career?
– Yes, I’ve been representing Azerbaijan for two and a half years now. During this period, many things in my life have changed, and all of them have been for the better.

– You’ve won medals in 8 out of the 10 prestigious tournaments you’ve competed in during this time. Are you satisfied with your results?
– The positive events I encountered during the transition period had a strong impact on me. I am very happy to be part of a strong team. Azerbaijan is my second home, and I am grateful for that. With God’s help, I have been able to maintain consistent results and win medals for our country.

– Which medal and match have been the most valuable and memorable for you?
– The most valuable awards for me are the bronze medal I won at the last World Championships and the gold from the Islamic Solidarity Games. I had prepared for both competitions with great seriousness and determination. My most important match was against the Iranian world champion Kamran Ghasempour.

– Speaking of which, you defeated a highly decorated opponent in the first round of the Islamic Solidarity Games. Did you believe you could beat Kamran? How did you plan the match? Did you experience any loss of spirit when you were behind on points?
– I had prepared for this competition with great effort. Of course, I believed in myself. Even when I fell behind on points, I did not lose hope in my strength or in God’s help. I developed the tactic together with my coaches, and thanks to that, I managed to win the match with the right strategy. I am very grateful to our coaches.

– Who are your main rivals in the upcoming Azerbaijani Championship?
– In my weight category, there are many very strong athletes in Azerbaijan. The younger generation is also developing quickly. I don’t want to single anyone out in particular.

– The 86 kg division is one of the most competitive categories in freestyle wrestling. What personal qualities are you working on to succeed in such competition?
– I work on every detail to improve my wrestling skills. I want not only to win, but to be noticeably superior to my opponents and to be fully dominant in matches.

– In your opinion, who are the leaders of this weight class?
– The last World Championships showed that the current leader of this weight class is the American Zahid Valencia.