Our national team returns home as European champions

April 24, 2026

Our Greco-Roman wrestling national team, which became European champion in the team standings with 2 gold and 3 bronze medals at the European Championships held in Tirana, the capital of Albania, has returned home.

A welcoming ceremony for our team was held at Heydar Aliyev International Airport:

Senior Coach Nureddin Rajabov:

“We had prepared at a very high level as a team. We took part in several consecutive training camps. Some of our athletes were also dealing with injuries. We achieved this victory through great effort. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of our athletes. In addition to winning 5 medals, we became the strongest team in Europe in the team standings. To become the strongest, every athlete in the team contributed points. Of course, there were minor mistakes. That is normal. We will work on those mistakes in our future training camps and in our preparations for the World Championships.

Hasrat made history. I have known him since the time when I was senior coach of the youth team. He is such a promising athlete that I knew he would achieve this success. I am sure you watched the final. Even when the Turkish wrestler was leading on the scoreboard, I still had confidence inside me. I was certain that Hasrat would change the score. He made all of us happy with this record result.

Not only before the final, but before all matches and during training camps, we always carried out analysis. We studied all of our wrestlers carefully. I also congratulate the entire coaching staff of our team. I sincerely congratulate the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the National Olympic Committee. Because they provided all training camps, vitamins needed for the athletes, and every other requirement consistently and without delay.”

Hasrat Jafarov:

“There was great responsibility on me. I knew that I could go down in history as a four-time European champion. That is why I prepared very well. I had very difficult matches. If our preparation had not been good, I would not have been able to win those matches. I was behind on the scoreboard in both the semifinal and final. Despite that, I made a comeback and won.”

Gurban Gurbanov:

“My impressions are very good. Our team became European champion. I also became European champion individually. This is my second European title. We will have a few days of rest now. Whatever instructions are given, we will follow them. Every championship has its own difficulties. In my opinion, this one was harder than the other one. Because I had several injuries before the competition. Therefore, recovering and making it back into the squad was very difficult.”

Islam Abbasov:

“The European Championships in Greco-Roman wrestling are always held in conditions of intense competition. Since the rivalry is strong, experience is needed in these tournaments. I won a bronze medal at this event. In future competitions, I will try to turn this medal into gold.”

Nihat Mammadli:

“This year, I had won the ranking tournament in the same city. I came to Tirana to become champion again. Unfortunately, due to some mistakes, I missed the gold medal and finished the tournament with bronze. This is already my fourth European Championship medal. I am happy about that. I hope to make our people proud with better results in future competitions. We had prepared very well for this tournament. Our training camps had also gone well. We believed that we could achieve a good result as a team, and we became champions in the team standings.”

Rashad Mammadov:

“Two years ago, I won a silver medal at the European Championships. I came here to turn that silver medal into gold. Unfortunately, for some reasons, it did not happen. Thank God, I did not return home without a medal. We will work on our mistakes and prepare better for the upcoming competitions.”

Sanan Suleymanov:

“First of all, I congratulate our team. We became European champions. My own result was not what I wanted. In general, both I and my teammates had prepared well for the competition. This time it was unsuccessful for me. Until the next competitions, I will work on my mistakes. The World Championships are ahead of us. I believe that I will win a medal at the World Championships. My main goal is to win a medal at the Olympic Games.”

Let us remind that at the European Championships, Hasrat Jafarov (67 kg) and Gurban Gurbanov (82 kg) won gold medals, while Rashad Mammadov (55 kg), Nihat Mammadli (60 kg), and Islam Abbasov (87 kg) won bronze medals.