AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES MEMBERS AND COACHES OF NATIONAL WRESTLING TEAM
Baku, April 7 (AZERTAC). Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has today received members and coaches of the country`s national wrestling team.
The President congratulated the athletes on “historic triumph in the European championship”.
“For the first time the Azerbaijani wrestlers secured such a remarkable win in the European championship. 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals is really a great victory, great triumph”
The President said: “Your wonderful win is an inspiration to us all. You once again proved that Azerbaijan enjoys high sporting fame, that Azerbaijan is a real sporting state.”
“The Azerbaijani wrestlers also secured a historic triumph in the world cup tournament which took place before the European championship. They won the world`s cup having shown their skills in a very tough contest. The European triumph and once again first place in the medal table proved that the victory in the world cup was not an accidental one. That was the practical product of a great work done in Azerbaijan over the last few years”
The President said: “In particular I want to stress the activity of the wrestling federation. I think that great and promising changes have been made in this kind of sport. Today, with boundless pride, we can say that Azerbaijan is the world`s leader in freestyle wrestling.”
“I also especially praise the role of and thank the coaches for improving the work of the federation. This win is, surely, the triumph of the athletes. They secured the victory thanks to their labor and professionalism, giving pleasure to the whole people of Azerbaijan,” said the President.
He said: “In the Summer Olympic games last year our Greco-Roman wrestlers achieved much more impressive success. And this time the freestyle wrestlers were stronger. It is natural, as everything is good in its season. This proves that Azerbaijan has a big potential in both kinds of wrestling.”
“In Lithuania, Azerbaijan`s anthem was performed and state flag raised five times. Every citizen of Azerbaijan who watched the competition rightly felt pride”
President Ilham Aliyev called the Azerbaijani wrestlers` performance heroism, saying “I believed in our athletes and coaches, and the triumph in Lithuania proved that this belief was well-founded”.
“Our sport, just like our country, is multinational. We are proud of the fact that people of different nationalities live in our country like a family, in friendship and brotherhood, and this is another factor contributing to our successes,” the President said.
Senior coach of the national freestyle-wrestling team Firdovsi Umudov and captain Khetag Gazyumov thanked the Azerbaijani President for his contribution to developing sports in the country.
President Ilham Aliyev said “the win will lay foundations for other successes”, adding sport will continue to be in the focus of attention since “this is one of the key priorities in the state policy in Azerbaijan”.
The President also referred to the women wrestlers` wins, saying “this is a new and successful element in the work of the wrestling federation”.
Following the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev posed for photographs together with the athletes and coaches in front of the Presidential palace.
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