2024-07-24 17:37:16
Beijing-2008 Olympic champion Elnur Mammadli announced his expectations from the performance of the Azerbaijani judo team in Paris.
According to Idman.biz, the Vice President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation gave an interview to the press service of the European Judo Union (EJU) and recalled his victory in Beijing.
Mammadli noted that winning the Olympics has its own beauty: “Watching the performances of Azerbaijani judokas at the Olympic Games from the outside increases the level of responsibility even more. When you are on tatami, you feel a special responsibility. But looking at the performance of the athletes of the national team, the burden of responsibility increases even more. The biggest dream of every athlete is to become an Olympic champion. I am one of those athletes. I went through a very difficult but honorable way to reach the Olympic peak. My Korean opponent was an athlete I respected a lot. Before our final meeting, our paths crossed at the 2007 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro. I lost there and settled for second place. However, I motivated myself by promising to win the Olympics. As if by fate, we both made it to the finals in Beijing. I reminded that this is not the annual World Cup, but the Olympic Games, which are organized every four years. I couldn’t miss this opportunity, so I prepared carefully. As you can see, the battle did not last long. I won with only 9 seconds and ippon. It’s an indescribable feeling.”
He also noted the continuity of generations in Azerbaijani judo: “Azerbaijan did not have an Olympic judo champion for many years. In 1992, Nazim Huseynov won the title and brought the first such medal to the country. 16 years later, I repeated his success. I am sure that Azerbaijan will train future Olympic champions in judo.”
Although Mammadli does not work as a coach in the national team, he is the vice-president of the federation and his rich experience is enough to advise the future champion: “My motivation comes from the fact that I have gone this way myself. I have also understood its intricacies. I want my knowledge to benefit my athletes by climbing to the top of the Olympic Games. My paths, secrets and all the nuances. Azerbaijani athletes who have won the status of Olympic champions and medalists are our great wealth. Of course, the main factor is a person’s patriotism. If someone loves his country, he naturally wants the following athletes to become European, world, and Olympic champions. Thanks to the trust of the management of our federation, I continue to practice judo, pass on my knowledge to athletes, go to competitions and support them. When our athletes fight on the tatami, in my mind I imagine myself with them, returning to sports, fighting. I think my psychological state is such that I am not far from sports, I am still in it. The essence of sports is that I am with them. I consider myself a judoka next to them, I celebrate every victory as my victory. I know their defeat as my own defeat.”
The vice-president also evaluated the last days of preparation for the Olympics: “Of course, everyone wants to be an Olympic champion. This is the word that everyone says. But a professional approach is very important. It is advisable to distance yourself from everyone as much as possible. You will hear this word over and over again when you are around everyone. But it is important to try to step aside a little. There should be fewer people in your field of view. On this crucial and special day, after 4-8 years of athletic training, achievements, you should be in great shape. By listening to the advice of wise people, by listening to your coaches, you will rise and conquer this peak.”
Mammadli remembered what he experienced after the final in which he won a great victory by 9 seconds: “After winning the gold medal, the most important change for me was seeing the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. It has been my dream since childhood to see him up close. As an Olympic champion, my dream came true. The head of our state, together with our first vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva, attended my every battle and turned every meeting into a holiday. For me, it was a double joy – to be an Olympic champion and to receive a bouquet of flowers from the head of state. Every Azerbaijani feels great happiness when the head of the country makes such a gesture.
There was also an emotional element to it. But the greatest happiness was that the first vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan personally called my mother and told me that her son is a hero. I think the greatest joy for every child is to be proud of their parents. When he returned to Azerbaijan from the Olympic Games, the head of the country said: “You will return to Azerbaijan with my private plane and me.” This moment became an important chapter in my life, a story in which I participated. I have been sharing for 16 years and will continue to tell my grandchildren. In fact, I believe that there is no greater happiness in my life. Nothing compares to this extraordinary experience.”
İdman.biz