Hidayat HEYDAROV (AZE/-73) is rushing from victory to victory in the 2024 Olympic season. He has won the Grand Slam in Baku in February, the European Championships in Zagreb in April and was crowned World Judo champion on Monday. Season record: 15 fights, 15 wins.
“I can’t believe it. I’m finally a Judo World champion. I came out on top in mine. Until today three bronze medals were my total. About 10 seconds before the end, in the semi-final against Igor Wandtke (GER), I had tears in my eyes because I knew that I’d finally made it, that I was in my first World Championships final. My coach (Beijing Olympic champion Elnur Mammadli) reminded me in the break before the final block that I would only make history if I won the World Championship title. Two hours later it actually happened – and I was in tears again. This is definitely the highlight of my career so far. I will try to savour every moment until the end. What do you want to hear from me? Yes, I love Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. I will never forget these scenes for the rest of my life.”
It was a battle that will go down in World Cup history. 10 seconds before the end, the three-time European champion had his back to the wall. Once again, his dream of winning the World Championships title seemed to be over. At literally the last moment, Heydarov turned the supposed defeat in the final into an ippon victory. The tension was hard to beat, as were the emotions after the fight. “Elnur and I were in each other’s arms. It was the perfect moment after three World Championships bronze medals – I’m finally world champion and that’s a damn good feeling,” smiled the 26-year-old Azeri.
Hidayat Heydarov still has a clean slate in the 2024 Olympic year. “I’m 15-0 up, I know,” smiles the world number one, before immediately continuing: “The story isn’t over yet. The series will go on until Paris. 20:0 – Olympic gold included!”
If anyone can do that in the hard-fought lightweight (-73 kg), it’s Hidayat Heydarov, the exceptional athlete who wants to equal his coach in terms of Olympic gold.
Author: EJU Media