Looking back to the Cadet European Championships in 2024, Khazar HEYDAROV of Ukraine was one of the stand out athletes, his great talent was certainly eye-catching, as was his conduct on the tatami. On day two of the European Youth Olympic Festival 2025, it was no different, except this time he didn’t settle for second place, he left with the gold medal, title, and something more.
First we found the initial reaction to the gold medal win in the -60kg category,
I’m so happy because this medal was very difficult for me, I have a hard time training, it’s not just for me, it’s for my city, my sparring partners and my coaches. I prepared so strong for this competition because it was so important to me, and now I am the winner, it feels so good.
Although we had already seen his respectful nature throughout the tournament and in previous events, the final moments of the final today felt a little special, and even leaving the tatami, Heydarov went directly to the coach of Azerbaijan and his opponent, current Cadet European Champion, Zeyd ALASGAROV, as they had a familial embrace,
He is my blood, we are two Azerbaijanis, I know him and he knows me. Today, I found it very difficult, for this to be my final, I know that psychologically and physically he is a very strong guy, so to be able to win this match, it is a great achievement. I was training in Azerbaijan for two months in 2022, in March and April and these coaches know me.
Reflecting on his silver medal at the Cadet Europeans in 2024, Heydarov explained the feelings he had this morning,
Today, I was thinking, I only want the gold medal, because last year I was silver medallist. When I saw the banners today with the writing European Youth Olympic Festival, my focus became gold and nothing else. Then I had a lot of pressure in my second fight which was the quarter final, because I had a waza ari, but in that final minute I felt so much pressure, I took two shidos, it was really a high stress.
It is a huge accomplishment for Heydarov, given both the weight of the tournament and the level of his opponents, and it was certainly difficult to find the right way to express himself.
I really don’t have the words right now, I say I’m happy but it’s much more, I have so many emotions, and to have the team here with me supporting me today, it made me want that gold medal even more.
This is the first gold medal in the judo event for Team Ukraine, and Illia NAZARENKO added a bronze in the -66kg category, so it must feel great to be able to return to the whole team here in Skopje, North Macedonia and celebrate, not only with the judo team, but from all disciplines.
I truly have a special feeling, this isn’t EJU or IJF, this is the Olympics, it is an important thing for me, and now we look to LA 2028 and I want it, I want this Olympic Games. Today, I tasted the Olympic feeling, it’s not just for the judo team from Ukraine, this is for my entire Olympic team and it’s a special medal for our country.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen