Our team, which won 4 medals at the U23 European Championship, has returned to the homeland

Our Greco-Roman wrestling team, which won 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals at the U23 European Championship held in Tirana, Albania, has returned home.

A welcoming ceremony for the team was held at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Aleksandr Tarakanov, Head Coach: “Our team was made up of young athletes. They were eager to win, and many showed character. Some didn’t succeed, but that’s something that needs time. There are some wrestlers who could have competed in this age group, but they are preparing for the senior European Championship. The mistakes made in this competition will be worked on so that we can achieve better results in the upcoming tournaments. I would like to thank the Federation leadership for providing all the necessary conditions for our high-level preparation.”

Ruslan Nurullayev, European Champion: “First of all, I would like to thank the Federation leadership, the coaching staff, and everyone who supported me. Last year, there were some small factors that kept me away from the championship, but I am very grateful to have received the gold medal this year, which I truly deserved. Throughout the year, we held high-level training camps both abroad and within the country. I will try to continue this success in the U23 World Championship. I dedicate this victory to my father. I promised him that I would win all the medals he desired, and I am glad to be keeping my word.”

Ziya Babaşov, European Runner-up: “I am thankful to the coaches who worked with me and to everyone who supported me and prayed for me. I won the silver medal, but I am not satisfied with my result. I had some injuries. Hopefully, I will replace this with a gold medal at the World Championship.”

Elmir Əliyev, European Third-Place: “Our training sessions went very well, and we were well-prepared. Unfortunately, I lost the gold medal due to a sudden mistake. I should have been the champion. Everyone had high hopes for me, but this was not meant to be. However, I didn’t return without a medal. In all the matches I won, I won decisively. Only in the semifinals did the match end in a 2-2 draw, and I lost the victory in the final seconds. I hope to replace this bronze with a gold medal at the U23 World Championship.”

Khasay Həsənli, European Third-Place: “I am happy that I didn’t return without a medal, but I am disappointed that I only reached 3rd place. I was expecting a gold medal for myself, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I didn’t deliver what was expected. But this is sport—anything can happen at any moment. All the competitors in the European Championship are strong. I sustained a serious elbow injury during the training camp in Croatia. I couldn’t prepare as well as I wanted. However, I don’t attribute my defeat to that injury. The team was very well prepared. All the guys had attended a training camp in Croatia. I got injured, and that affected me. I couldn’t train the way I wanted to. I had won gold at the U23 European Championship in 2022 and 2024. I thought I could be a three-time European Champion, but things didn’t turn out as I hoped. I made mistakes, and hopefully, I will work on and correct them.”