It has been four years since the cadet athletes have had the opportunity to return to Azerbaijan following the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival in Baku. Now, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation are back in the business with cadets, with the Goygol European Cup fast approaching.
Notably on the Cadet European Tour, Azerbaijan are very strong with their youths across both the young men and young women, in Teplice, Czech Republic at the beginning of April they topped the medal table with six gold medals, one silver and four bronze, it was a similar fate for the team in Zagreb the month prior.
It will be an incredible experience for the younger team to perform in front of a home crowd.
Vice President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation and 2008 Olympic Champion, Elnur MAMMADLI attends many international events in support of his team, not only on a senior level and is very happy to bring judo back home.
As an Olympic champion and Vice President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, I am thrilled that our country will be hosting the Cadet European Cup in Goygol. Not only does this event provide an excellent opportunity for young athletes to showcase their skills and compete at a high level, but it also allows them to do so in front of a home crowd, which is an invaluable experience.
In addition, I would like to add that this year in Azerbaijan is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. The hosting of the Cadet European Cup in Goygol is just one example of Azerbaijan’s commitment to promoting sports and physical activity, which aligns with Heydar Aliyev’s vision of a strong and prosperous Azerbaijan.
Mammadli continues,
At the same time, this tournament aligns perfectly with President Ilham Aliyev’s vision for promoting sports and physical activity in all regions of Azerbaijan. The President recognizes that sport is a powerful tool for promoting healthy living, national pride, and international cooperation.
It is a great honor for Azerbaijan to host this tournament and we look forward to welcoming young judokas from all over Europe to our beautiful country.
The two day event will take place on the 6th and 7th of May, follow live.ijf.org for the draw on the 5th of May and for both days of competition.
Author: Thea Cowen