Nureddin Rajabov: “We could have been World Champions”

August 26, 2025

The Greco-Roman wrestling team of Azerbaijan, which finished third in the team standings with one set of medals at the U20 World Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria, has returned home.

A welcoming ceremony was held at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Nureddin Rajabov, senior coach:
“It was a very tough tournament. Several World and European medalists at the senior level suffered defeats here, which shows the high level of competition. We achieved our best result in the last three years. Securing third place among nearly 50 teams is something to be proud of. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the leadership of the Wrestling Federation for their support and congratulate the entire wrestling family. Without regular training camps, our results would not have been this strong. Athletes improve only when they train consistently and stay in regime. Tural Ahmadov and Davud Mammadov both had injuries, which seriously affected their performances. We also expected a medal from Seymur Gasimov, but it did not work out. I can also point to some controversial refereeing decisions. Had it not been for these problems, we could have become world champions in the team standings. Nevertheless, we are grateful. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this success.”

Rafiq Huseynov, AGF representative:
“It was a competition of intense battles. The result could have been even better. Some of our wrestlers were denied gold medals due to refereeing decisions. Those who left without medals will work on their mistakes. This is not the end. Naturally, many competitions lie ahead for them, and they will have opportunities to prove themselves. The 60 kg category is one of the most competitive weight classes for us. Wrestlers such as Nihad Mammadov and Murad Mammadov compete there. Of course, it won’t be easy for Aykhan to face such rivals. But in this tournament he proved himself and showed that he too can make his mark at senior level in the future. Sometimes I think becoming a world champion in the U20s is even more difficult than among seniors. This was Aykhan’s first year in the U20 age group. He delivered an admirable performance. He fought until the end, and in matches where he was behind, he managed to come back and win. That shows the character of a true athlete.”

Aykhan Javadov, world champion:
“I want to thank the national team coaches, the federation leadership, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their support. This year the tournaments went the way I wanted: I became both European and World champion. The World Championship matches were tough. In the semifinal, I faced a Georgian opponent for the fourth time and defeated him convincingly. In the final, I was trailing 3-5 after the first period. But thanks to the instructions and motivation from our coaches, I managed to turn the match around in the second half. For now, I plan to continue competing in this weight class.”

Turan Dashdamirov, world silver medalist:
“This year I won silver at both the European and World Championships. God willing, next year will be better. There were mistakes that kept me from winning gold. I will keep working on myself and eliminate those mistakes.”

Feraim Mustafayev, world bronze medalist:
“It was a very strong tournament. All of my opponents were wrestlers with achievements at World and European level. The semifinal could have ended differently, but it wasn’t meant to be. If I get the chance at the U23 World Championships, I will aim for the gold medal.”