Autumn 2003 (11.3)
Pages 24-25

European Judo in Baku

Left: Gold medalist Ramila Usubova (57 kg) in the Women's Competition of the European Judo Championship held in Baku in August.

For the first time, the European Judo Championship was held in Baku. The competition took place at the Sports and Exhibition Center in Baku on August 23rd and 24th, 2003.

An Olympic sport, Judo is quite popular in Azerbaijan among both men and women. There are several Judo clubs in Baku, the most famous of which is "Ippon." Azerbaijanis have excelled in Judo in the international arena.

For example, in 1992 Nazim Huseinov won the Gold Medal in Barcelona and Zulfiyya Huseinova has won top awards in various International, World and European championships in the women's division, including four-time World Champion. This year's competition brought 300 athletes from 30 countries to Baku. Azerbaijan was represented by 14 athletes, one of which one was a woman - Ramila Usubova, who won a Gold Medal.


Above: (Left) Gold medalist Elman Nasibov - 55 kg; (Right) Gold medalist Elman Karimov - 60 kg.

All in all, the Azerbaijanis fared exceptionally well, winning three gold, three silver and two bronze medals. As a team, Azerbaijan took the First Place; France, second; and Georgia, Third.

Azerbaijan's Gold Medal winners included: Elman Nasibov (55 kg), Elman Karimov (60 kg) and Ramila Usubova (57 kg). Silver Medal winners were Nijat Shikhalizade (50 kg), Seymur Rezayev (66 kg), and Teymur Alikhanov (73 kg). Bronze Medals went to Anar Aliyev (81 kg) and Mehman Novruzov (more than 90 kg). Next year's European Judo Championship is scheduled to take place in Holland.


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