SPORTS
ARIF ABDULLAYEV BECOMES WORLD’S BEST WRESTLER
Azerbaijani athlete Arif Abdullayev /66 kg/ has gained gold beating his Cuban rival in the finals of the freestyle wrestling championship held in New-York. The victory guaranteed Abdullayev’s participation in the 2004 Games in Athens. Before, Khazar Isayev was the last Azerbaijani wrestler to win the title of World champion in this kind of sport, 1986.
According to the press-service of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism, another Azerbaijani wrestler Elnur Aslanov, 74 kg has appeared among top ten athletes and also gained the right to fight in Athens.
Five wrestlers including Sydney Games winner Nakmig Abdullayev represented Azerbaijan in the tournament, but the injury the latter suffered in the fist battle made him to interrupt his participation in the competition.
Apart from the mentioned wrestlers, Olympic licenses were gained by two Azerbaijani shots Irada Ashumova and Zemfira Meftakheddinova.