Turan Bayramov: “I will do everything to put an end to this”

August 29, 2025

An interview with Turan Bayramov, member of Azerbaijan’s national freestyle wrestling team:

– Last September you underwent shoulder surgery and were sidelined for five months. Has the injury fully healed?

– My first competition after the Olympics was the Aleksandr Medved Tournament held in Belarus this February. In July, I wrestled at the ranking tournament in Hungary. Being out of competition for more than five months naturally had its effect. My shoulder has been completely healed for a month now. I am ready to wrestle at full strength in tournaments.

– What can you say about the training camp held in Turkey?

– The preparation went very well. The conditions in Kastamonu were excellent. We held a joint camp with the national teams of Turkey, Bahrain, North Macedonia, Romania and Uzbekistan. It was a very productive training camp. We worked on both physical and technical-tactical aspects. Although more emphasis was placed on physical conditioning, we also had plenty of mat sessions. I consider this camp to be a very useful stage of preparation ahead of the World Championships.

– You are 24 years old and have already competed in two Olympic Games. That is not something every athlete achieves. Which Games do you think offered you a better chance to win a medal, 2021 or 2024?

– Yes, thankfully I had the chance to compete at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. I believe I could have won a medal at the most recent Games because I was very well prepared. I had done everything possible during training camps, and our coaches believed the same. But my lapse in the final seconds of the bout against Chermen Valiev cost me dearly. I left without a medal. Valiev is a strong opponent. I believe I won’t repeat such mistakes again. It was a huge experience for me.

– Many wrestling fans think you are not as aggressive in attack at senior level as you were in your junior years. What is your take on that?

– I get this question a lot. As a cadet and junior, I wrestled in the 65 kg category. Having spent a long time in that weight, I had fully adapted to its tempo and strength level. Then I suddenly moved up to 74 kg, where the level of opponents was much higher. These were athletes who had already made their mark at European and World Championships. From the outside it may look like I stop and don’t execute moves, but that is not the case. One must take into account that 74 kg is the toughest and most competitive weight class in freestyle wrestling. All the opponents are strong and experienced. I have already wrestled at two Olympic Games. I have a European Championship medal and have won the Islamic Solidarity Games. Now it is time to establish myself in this weight. For that, I need to switch to a more attacking style. God willing, I will do so in the upcoming competitions.

– What do you focus on most during training? Which weaknesses are you trying to eliminate?

– I enjoy working most on my favorite techniques. I often attack my opponent’s legs to score points. I also work on throws from the arm.

– The World Championships, where the best wrestlers will compete, are approaching. Who do you see as your main rivals?

– I can name Zaurbek Sidakov, Chermen Valiev and Taimuraz Salkazanov. The wrestlers from Iran, the USA and Japan are also very strong.

– Do you study their bouts to analyze their strengths and weaknesses?

– Absolutely. I have wrestled with most of them and know their styles well. But I still analyze their matches every day and watch their wrestling. Each has their own advantages and signature techniques. Before the World Championships, I try to adjust my training accordingly.

– You mentioned that 74 kg is the toughest weight category. In such fierce competition, what is your goal?

– My goal is to become World Champion. This has been my dream since childhood. I want to win the title in the most challenging weight class and bring Azerbaijan its first gold medal in 74 kg. For years this category has been dominated by Russian and American wrestlers. I will do everything in my power to put an end to that.