Azerbaijan gains 4 silver in sambo
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan continues to enrich the national coin box at the Baku 2015 European Games with precious medals as wrestlers won four silver on June 22.
The country started the 12th day of the competitions with 39 medals, 14 of which are gold, 11 are silver and 14 are bronze.
The host country follows Russia, which has unbeatable 87 medals, 45 of which are gold. Germany is on the third place with 32 medals, 11 gold.
On June 22, Azerbaijan’s female wrestler Nazakat Khalilova has claimed the silver medal of the Baku 2015 after losing to Russian Anna Kharitonova in the women’s 52 kg sambo event.
Bronzes went to Lithuanian Ruta Aksionova and Magdalena Varbanova of Bulgaria.
Azerbaijan’s Islam Gasimov won the silver medal in the men's 57kg. Russia's Aymergen Atkunov claimed the gold, while Belarusian Uladzislau Burdz and Georgian Vakhtangi Chidrashvili grabbed the bronze medals.
Belarusian Stsiapan Papou won the men's sambo -74kg defeating Azerbaijan’s Amil Gasimov in the final.
Bronze medals went to Georgian Kakha Mamulashvili and Russian Azamat Sidakov.
Russian Artem Osipenko defeated Azerbaijan’s Vasif Safarbayov to win gold in the men's +100kg.
Safarbayov took the silver. Bronzes were won by Belarusian Yury Rybak and Ukrainian Razmik Tonoyan.
The Day 12 will present badminton, fencing, swimming, boxing, volleyball and 3x3 basketball events.
Athletes will contend for nine medal sets: seven in swimming, and two in fencing.
The Azerbaijani athletes will take part in all these events.
The Baku 2015 European Games is an innovative competition that has gathered over 6,000 athletes from 50 countries to compete in 20 sports. Twelve sports are officially recognized as qualifiers for 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
The magnificent opening ceremony of the Games delighted Azerbaijanis and showcased the history of the country to the world on June 12. The European Games will conclude on June 28.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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