It’s already a massive feat to take the gold medal at the European Youth Olympic Festival, to be the first in judo is a great omen for the team, and was for Rza KHALILLI in the -50kg category, but not only that, he is the first medal for all sports here in Skopje, North Macedonia, and he absolutely set the ball rolling.
During the Cadet European Championships one month ago, his team mate took the gold medal in this category, yet he was given the opportunity to try for yet another. This truly demonstrates the depth in the team and he is happy that their wins are now 1-1 in major events, but they all prepared hard, and of something bigger than themselves.
We prepared very well because in 2007 in Belgrade, the team of Azerbaijan took four gold medals in judo and now we want to repeat this success and hopefully take even more. There are some ways to take more medals but inshallah, we can do it.
It was a very strong competition today, with medallists from the European Championships also in attendance, so how did Khalilli find his opponents?
Today, all of my opponents were really so strong so I had to take it one by one, I really think it’s only because of my preparation that I managed to win today. They really were all so strong and tall compared to me I felt.
Walking on to the final, he had the pressure to become the first medallist for Azerbaijan, but also a tremendous amount of support, first from his coach,
I’m not keeping it to myself, my lovely coach, Emin [Iskandarov], told me to take it easy, to go on in to the final and just look to him, and he will help me to win.
Then of course from the brimming tribune of supporters waving their national flags, and we find out it wasn’t only his judo team and Khalilli has a message for the other disciplines,
I took the first medal, not only in judo, but for the whole Azerbaijan team, and I am so thankful that the athletes from our other sports came to cheer me on, it was so nice to have them all in the tribune. I wish them all the best as well and I hope that they can bring us some medals too!
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen