Oyan Nazariani: “This Will Be a Historic First for Azerbaijani Beach Wrestling”

Interview with Oyan Nazariani, head coach of the national beach wrestling team:

– How would you evaluate the team’s performance at the U17 European Championship?
– In the tournament held in Poreč, Croatia, we competed in three of the four weight categories, securing two gold and one bronze medal. Despite winning the most gold medals, we placed third overall as one weight category was left vacant. However, based on medal quality, we ranked first, which is a significant achievement for us. Winning gold in two out of four weight classes is a commendable result. We always aim for maximum success, and we could have secured three gold medals. Rashid Nazarov (60 kg) lost his semifinal match in the final seconds, but he deserved the gold. I believe with better preparation, we can compete in all four weight categories at the World Championship and achieve even better results. Naturally, the World Championship will be much more challenging than the European Championship. Nevertheless, we hope to perform well in that competition as well.

– You participated in the World Series stage immediately after the European Championship. While this was the second stage of the season, it was your first. How would you assess the results?
– In the World Series, we competed in two weight categories and reached the podium with both wrestlers. Winning one gold and one bronze medal is a good result. Many countries competed with more athletes across all four weight categories. For instance, Georgia had eight wrestlers, Iran six, and Ukraine twelve. Considering the strong competition from leading wrestling nations, our results were remarkable. Although we missed the first stage of the World Series and are slightly behind in the rankings, I am confident we can close the gap and move ahead in the upcoming stages.

– The National Beach Wrestling Championship will be held on July 16–17. What are your expectations for this event?
– Supported by the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation, the championship will feature U17 and senior age groups. This is an excellent opportunity to expand the national team, discover new talents, and introduce them to the rules and training methods of beach wrestling. It will also serve as preparation for the World and European Championships, and especially for next year’s Youth Olympic Games.

– Do you plan to make changes to the roster for the U17 World Championship and the subsequent World Series stages?
– Yes, we plan to add new athletes. The final roster will be determined based on results from the National Championship and the subsequent training period. Our goal is to form the best possible team. Additionally, we are planning to include female wrestlers in the U17 World Championship for the first time in Azerbaijani beach wrestling history.

– There are no international competitions until September. How will the team prepare during this period?
– We will maintain and enhance the team’s readiness through various training camps. These camps will be intensive and aimed at ensuring our preparation remains at the highest level. The process will continue uninterrupted until the World Championship and the final stage of the World Series are complete.

– Beach wrestling is now part of the Youth Olympic Games. Could we see it included in future senior Olympic Games? What steps should UWW take to achieve this?
– As you mentioned, beach wrestling is included in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, a historic milestone for the sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will closely observe these events, which opens significant opportunities for beach wrestling to be considered for future senior Olympic Games. UWW has been working on plans to elevate beach wrestling for years. Although adding a new sport to the Olympic program is challenging, efforts are being made in earnest. I believe increasing the number of participants in beach wrestling competitions and enhancing its global promotion are crucial for achieving this goal.