SPORTS
Namig Abdullayev - one of most famous Azerbaijani wrestlers
Baku, March 31, AZERTAC
Namig Abdullayev, one of the most famous Azerbaijani wrestlers was born in Baku on January 4, 1971.
Abdullayev has left his mark in sports history of Azerbaijan as the first Olympic champion in wrestling.
He has started to engage in free-style wrestling since 1983 under the leadership of honoured coach of Azerbaijan Vahid Mammadov in "Spartak" Sport Society.
The world-famous wrestler, who has been champion of the country for several times and winner of many international tournaments won silver medal in USSR youth championship in 1989 and bronze medal in 1990.
He was the winner of World Cup in 1990 and champion of the USSR in 1991.
Abdullayev won silver medal among youth at Spartakiada of the USSR nations in 1991, bronze among youth at the world championship, gold medal at the CIS championship for last time in 1992.
The Azerbaijani athlete, who has been three-time winner of "Grand Prix" international tournament in honor of Alexander Medved was champion of the "Grand Prix" in honor of Ivan Yarigin in 1996, and was awarded by silver medal at the same tournament in 1997.
As for the success in the continental competitions, Abdullayev won gold medal in European Championship in 1994, 1995, 2003 and silver medal in 1997, 2006 and bronze medal in 1996.
Namig was a silver medalist at the world championships in 1994, 1998, 2002, and also awarded with bronze medal in 2006.
He ranked second place in the Military World Games in 1995 and on account of unfair decision of the judges, he won the silver medal at Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. However, Abdullayev managed to win gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games in 2000 in Australia, he proved to be the strongest.
Namig Abdullayev, who has been rewarded by “Taraggi (Progress)” medal in 1995, “Shohrat (Glory)” Order in 2000, was awarded by titles of Honored Master of sport of Azerbaijan (2006) and Honored coach of sport of Azerbaijan (2007).
He is a member of the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee and also a head coach of Azerbaijani freestyle wrestling team.
