Ragif Abbasov, head of Baku City Youth and Sports Department, took part in the opening ceremony of competitions. He welcomed all and stated that this championship has been held for many years and organized at a high level. “We, together with the Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation and Azerbaijan Television, always pay attention to this competition and emphasize the importance of it. Fakhraddin Shahbazov had been a sample for young generation through his life and activities. Our objective is to preserve this heritage and to promote it through these competitions. ”

General Secretary of the Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation, Rizvan Rasulov, also took a floor. He also said that it is essential to remember the memory of national hero Fakhraddin Shahbazov with such competitions every year: “Athletes represent Azerbaijan in international arenas. It is vital to have a mass for their growing and training, and we can achieve this with such tournaments. As a federation, we do our best for this work, get maximum support, participate in the organization of competitions. We will continue this work after that”.

In conclusion, the wife of the national hero Nasiba Shahbazova was invited to the stage, where she was presented with commemorative medals and gifts. She, in turn, praised the regular and high-level organization of the competitions and thanked everyone who contributed.

The competitions were declared open and the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played.

As for the championship, athletes weighing 49 and 55 kg were first to board the platform. The gold medalists were Fuad Gadimov and Avaz Taghiyev with a total of 136kg (58+78) and 190kg (90+100) result, respectively. In the following bodyweight categories, the places were captured by Huseyn Azayev (61kg) with 160kg (70+90), Kamil Nabiyev (67kg) with 208kg (98+110), Novruz Mukhtarli (73kg) with 161kg (76+85), Janali Asadov (81kg) with 213kg (96+117), Yashar Mamayev (89kg) with 245kg (115+130) and Kanan Zamanov (96kg) with 216kg (96+120) result.

Congratulations!

49 kg

55 kg

61 kg

67 kg

73 kg

81 kg

89 kg

96 kg

ŞƏKİLLƏR 49 KQ VƏ 55 KQ

ŞƏKİLLƏR 61 KQ VƏ 67 KQ

ŞƏKİLLƏR 73 KQ, 81 KQ, 89 KQ, 96 KQ, 102 KQ VƏ +102 KQ

In addition, it was reported about coaching innovations in world weightlifting. Many questions were answered during the lectures, the opinions of local coaches were heard, and guest lecturers’ comments were given.
General Secretary of the Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation (AAAF) Rizvan Rasulov, commented on the coachin seminar: “We are organizing this The Coaching Seminar in the framework of the IWF Development Program within corporation in International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). Every year such activities for the training of high-level coaches or athletes for the purpose of developing weightlifting in member countries, by the IWF. We, as AWF, have been involved in these projects this year. We decided to give a suggestion to organize a coaching seminar in Azerbaijan. IWF supported our initiative. We wanted to take advantage of the knowledge and skills of experienced professionals like Colin Buckley and Eduards Andruskevics by inviting them her and we saw that was a right decision. It was a very effective seminar. Coaching seminars in weightlifting are held in 3 directions – for newcomers, coaches with some experience and high-level coaches. We decided not separate them and synthesized and managed to hold a seminar where coaches from all three categories can simultaneously improve their knowledge. In the future, we can also run individually for each category, but for the first time we decided to cover it all.
I can say that, this theoretical and practical seminar very important for further development of the weightlifting in our country. And it is only a start. We are very pleased with corporation by IWF. Azerbaijani Weightlifting Federation intends to work closely with the International and European Weightlifting Federations and other sports organizations to ensure that coaches and other sports professionals are constantly familiar with the latest developments in modern weightlifting and constantly improve their classification for training high-class athletes”.
The three-day long theoretical and practical seminar attracted great interest of coaches and teachers from across the country, and also provided them with the opportunity to gain useful theoretical and practical knowledge.

On September 20, press conference of IWF President Tamas Ajan took place at the Four Seasons Hotel. At the event attended by AZE WF General Secretary Rizvan Rasulov, the questions of media representatives were answered.

At the beginning, Tamas Ajan shared his thoughts: “My visit to Baku is for a short-term. Here, the prestigious tournament like Judo World Championship has started. Unfortunately, I will not be able to stay long. Azerbaijan people loves weightlifting sport. The results have been good enough. Regrettably, the samples taken from some weightlifters who participated in the Summer Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 gave a positive result, penalties were applied. This was a good lesson for us. The head of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach called me and said that the issue had become very serious, and if it continues, weightlifting can be removed from the Olympics program. His reactions are very clear. We must try to ensure that athletes do not take prohibited substances. For the fight against doping, I set up two special Commissions –Clean Sport Commission and Sport Program. If works in this sphere are not effective, the inclusion of weightlifting in the program of the next Summer Olympic Games will be under great doubt”.

“I like Azerbaijan very much, I love this country. Jahangir Askerov is one of the greatest leaders of national federations. What he is doing for weightlifting is fantastic. Also the work carried out by Vice-President Tofig Heydarov, General Secretary Rizvan Rasulov and others is worthy of praise. Opening of new training halls, purchase of inventories have a positive impact on the development of this sport in Azerbaijan. Therefore, I regret that Azerbaijan is in the list of 9 suspended countries. We consider Azerbaijan a very good partner. On June 11, the independent Clean Sport Commission reported to me that Azerbaijan was the first which country accepted all the criteria. Again, Azerbaijan athletes will be able to participate in the international competitions, as well as in the 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. This is the result of teamwork.”

At the end of press conference, numerous questions of journalists have been answered.

-Despite the fact that last few years a strong fighting has begun against doping, most doping cases are in Russia and other CIS countries. The conversation is not just about weightlifting. Somehow, the USA remains outside in this process. It’s as if their athletes are always “clean. In weightlifting, Chinese athletes make great successes. As we hear that, there are special nutritions that are not founded in the doping, but enhancing the effect? Don’t you think some kind of special control could be done to these countries’ athletes?

-I would like to give a detailed answer. Concerning the former Soviet training system, it was a part of the preparation to use “forbidden substances”. This also influenced the result of the athletes, and improved the performance. I was also studied carefully this kind of situations. According to the international publication, this kind of things increased the performance between 8-15%.Only briefly, if a competitor had a very good snatch 100kg, 7-8 kg “added” at the expense of preparations. The experts in this sphere know very well what the difference between lifting 100 kg, 105 kg or 108 kg. The same situation is in running, generally in athletics. A hammer thrower can do 65 meters, but with the assistance of substances he\she can lift this figure to 67-68m. I refer to the former Soviet Union, especially I do not mean Azerbaijan. In general, the whole world was surprised that the “soviets” showed very progressive, positive results: this was a peculiar training method to the USSR, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and others. That is why I do not criticize you, Union countries. At that time, the German Democratic Republic and the neighboring countries invited those coaches to work, and in the competitions the blood tests taken in the sport types where these coaches worked from the former Soviet and Socialist Bloc countries were “positive”. I am not intended to condemn all the coaches at that time. Because I’m from Hungary, and we had also the same. This was the answer to the first part of your question. After that, do not ever think that the USA is an exception, or any holy country. Positive results have been taken from their analysis in baseball. We all know about the famous event of the cyclist Lens Armstrong. It showed that doping is a common problem in the world and has become widespread. Therefore, the IOC created WADA that such an agency within the Committee, neither the national federations nor the international federation, would take full control of this issue seriously. In this way, our cooperation is very vital. Let’s not cheat one another. Thank you for your question.

-Notwithstanding the fighting, it is impossible to eradicate doping. How will it be possible to solve this problem in the near future?

– For 52 years I have been working in the international sports arena. During this time there have been positive doping results, and unfortunately, these cases may occur in the future. Doping in all sport types is inevitable. Because every time there will be athletes who are ready to go this way for the gold medal. But we believe that in the future the number of positive results will drop significantly. Why? Modern laboratories’ work style, technique is so up-to-date and so precise that they can even find banned substances in the analysis stored with the deep-freezing method of 10 years ago. Issues related to Beijing and London Olympics are examples. We are cooperating closely with IOC and WADA. Also, we have established a new organization. This is called International Test Agency (ITA). The headquarter of ITA is in Lausanne. They will also work closely with us and IOC. Finally, according to the question, I would not rule out that we will observe a significant decline in the coming years. Yes, I would like to note that I will come back to Azerbaijan. Not only because I love your country as I mentioned.

– About 7-8 years ago Baku hosted the International Weightlifting Championship – Baku Grand Prix, but then a break was given. How do you look at its restoration, the initiative to host the World Championship in Azerbaijan? I have a second question. You mentioned the development of weightlifting in Azerbaijan, but there is also Zirve International Sports Club operating in Azerbaijan. How can you assist to internationalise this club?

– 6 years ago this Grand Prix was organized. Yesterday I had a very fruitful meeting with the AZE WF President Jahangir Askerov and he announced intention to hold this competition again. He asked me for an estimate and an organization plan. We will work in this direction and will have the necessary assistance. China is already interested in hosting the World Cup, expressing its desire and intention, and Russia as well. It would be good to organize in the USA, as the USA federation is very fanciful and quite active, and is qualified by its organizational structure. Of course, there are specific criteria for holding the competition, so the special prize fund should be separated and given to the winners, in addition, special regulations should be necessarily on the participation of athletes. Yes, we want to hold the World Cup in Baku. I would like the press to be a little active and help us to broaden it. Regarding the club, Mr. Tofig Heydarov is a President of very strong club. In the coming weeks our meetings are planned. I know, he is a man that is qualified by his enthusiasm in weightlifting. Personally I know him as a well-known athlete as well. You remember, I have already mentioned that Azerbaijan has very good, talented weightlifters. It is a pleasure for us to work with them.

– Recently, doping cases have been revealed in our 4 athletes. One of them, Isa Huseynov was punished for four year. But the next 3 athletes-except Elmar Aliyev, a decision was not disclosed on Huseyn Ismayilov and Anastasiya Ibrahimli. What is the reason?

– It is a purely domestic issue. There are procedural rules, regulations, and legal aspects of the case. All of these processes should be completed and the decision should be made public. Unfortunately, during the Islamic Games coaches from the former USSR were involved to the Arab countries, and they also gave athletes prohibited substances to get high result. The result is obvious. If we go back to the question, I can not exactly say anything. The procedure should be completed. In the doping cases, the athletes and coaches, even if it is massive, even the country itself can be suspended. Please contact an official letter and our lawyers will definitely reply to this question.

– As you know, we, as a federation, were suspended for 1 year. During one year, our athletes should be tested three times. However, our penalty finished on July. We have athletes who have been analyzed once or twice. Will they be allowed to participate in the competitions?

– Anyway, if the suspension time expired, yes, they can take part.

– Will the weightlifting be included to the European Games in Belarus in 2019?

– No. The first European Games were fantastic in Baku. However, unfortunately, the European Federation does not work at a high level. Thus, weightlifting was not included, and will not be in Minsk as well.

– You spoke nice things about the AZE WF, saying that all the criteria were accepted and followed. In return, can we perceive the participation of our girl athlete in Youth Olympic Games as a gesture? And as a continuation of my colleague’s question, of course, we talk about world championships or greater competitions, but we have to take into account that the Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation has started to work again from zero. Could any of the prestigious events, such as the European championship, be credited to Azerbaijan before the World Cup?

– No problem. The federation has such a right. On October 19, the punishment period of all countries will expire. Yes, you will be free again. Azerbaijan will have an authority in direct participation and organization. Without any problems, even tomorrow, Azerbaijan can take part in international competitions, and if all the works are pursued correctly, it can also organize competitions. Yesterday we discussed it with Jahangir Askerov, Tofig Heydarov and Rizvan Rasulov. I wished Azerbaijan great success, and expressed my satisfaction with all the work done.

Deputy of Azerbaijan Youth and Sports Minister, the Vice-President of AZE WF – Ismayil Ismayilov has opened the Conference with introductory remark. He stated that weightlifting in our country has recently become a popular sport and one of the favorite types of sports. Ismayilov also noted that Federation struggles against doping and great work is being done. According to him, the weightlifting team is a great family that is strengthening every day.

Then General Secretary of AZE WF-Rizvan Rasulov took a floor and briefed on the activities of the AZE WF in the first half of 2017. The General Secretary noted that during the reporting period, our national teams succeeded in participating in several international competitions: “National teams got on the platform in the 2nd Iran Fajr Cup, in the World Youth Championship in Thailand, World Juniors Championship in Tokyo and in the IV Islamic Games. In these competitions, our athletes could get 2 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals. It should be specified that our national team got a license to the Youth Olympic Games in the World Championship in Thailand, for the first time in history. In addition, in accordance with the approved calendar schedule, AZE WF and AYSM organized Republic competitions , 2 selection competitions, as well as XI Republic Games among juniors and seniors, and provided the participating of more than a thousand athletes. In order to prepare for international competitions, the training-camps were held both inside and outside the country and were provided with the best conditions. ” Later, Rasulov announced the Federation’s financial report and reported the revenue and expenses. However, the General Secretary noted that AZE WF pays great attention to the fight against doping, and understanding the seriousness of the issue, implements continuous events. These include regular enlightenment, internal doping tests, dispensing and vitamin management, nutrition control, the establishment of treatment in special rescue and rehabilitation centers and so on.

Then, the Vice-President of AZE WF-Ruslan Khanverdiyev took a floor. He spoke extensively about the Federation infrastructure: “Within six months, we have taken over major renovations of halls in the regions and construction of new halls. Repair and restoration work was carried out in the weightlifting hall of Gobustan city youth and sports school, Surakhani Weightlifting Hall of Education Republican Sports Center, Weightlifting Hall of Galebugurd village of Shamakhi region, Ramana Weightlifting hall, Weightlifting Hall of Central Army Sports Club, Weightlifting hall of Azerbaijan State Physical Culture and Sports Academy and in the weightlifting hall of Piran village of Lerik region, and a weightlifting training-camp was created and put into operation in Astara, which meets the most modern requirements. Works on opening new halls in Sumgait and Baku are underway. All necessary halls will be provided with the vital equipment in the second 6 months of 2017. There are several main goals of the Federation in opening halls, providing them with repair and equipment. These include the provision of coaches and athletes to be trained in the regions, promoting and propagation of weightlifting in the country, involving the most talented young people from all regions in the sport of weightlifting, the strengthening of the weightlifting school in Azerbaijan and the spreading of sport and healthy lifestyle among young people and children.

For the next 6 months, we still have active action plans and we have foreseen the major renovations in existing halls, the launch of new halls in the regions where there is no weightlifting hall, provision of halls with modern equipments, creation of an archive of Azerbaijan weightlifting, establishment of a history museum of weightlifting sport in Azerbaijan. All of the AAAF Holding companies, including AAAF Construction, were involved in these works. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my profound gratitude to the President of the National Olympic Committee – Mr. Ilham Aliev, for their continued care and support to the sport laid by National Leader Heydar Aliev, to the President of AZE WF- Jahangir Askerov and the Vice-Presidents of AZE WF- Azer Aliev, Ismayil Ismayilov and Tofig Heydarov”.

During the Event, the former President of AZE WF-Shua Huseynov, the judges-Vahid Nazarov and Gadir Babaev, member of the AZE WF Presidium-Fakhri Aghaev also made their comments and suggestions.

At the end, athletes and their coaches differing in IV Islamic Games held in Baku, were awarded with the certificates of housing and cash prizes by the Federation. The federation also appreciated all the other employees who contributed to the competition and assessed their efforts with cash prizes.

NƏTİCƏLƏR

Rizvan Rasulov and Rashad Aliev made a speech, before the concert program. They noted that great efforts are made for the well-being of people, the healthy growth of the next generation, and succeed in life and they also proud of joining this kind of activity. İt was noted that, Federation intends to take such steps to hold such events regularly, help to raise the congregation of all the children who need help and physically limited, and to conquer the peaks. The director of Center-Valida Abbasova spoke about the importance of such care and attention, and emphasized that athletes play an exemplary role for this children, and this goodwill visit will have a positive effect in the future, and expressed her gratitude.
There were pleasant moments in the art section. The known singers – Elkhan Garakhanoghlu, Gunay Shushali and Natig Haziyev created a great atmosphere with their playful songs. The children had a good time and their amateur performances were met with great interest. The music numbers of the little dancers caused a sense of pride and joy. In the end, each of the 50 children were presented with the special gifts for their mental, physical and social development and the fruits and sweets table was opened for them.

In the men struggle, the last winner of the day was determined in 62 kg weight category. Mahammad Mammadli was gold medalist with total 271 kg (123+148) result. Kenan Khalilov was silver medalist with total 251 kg (121+130), and showing 227 kg (100+127) result, Elmaddin Huseynov owned bronze medal.

The aim is to select the strong athletes, to teach and develop the sport of weightlifting in cities, towns and villages, to strengthen friendship relations between the athletes and coaches, to increase and improve the athletes’ skill level and to prepare for the following international competitions.

62 kg. Under-20 years. A group.

Men. 62 kg. B group.

62 kg. A group. Under 23 .