Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan won its third medal in Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Monday, thereby allowing the national fans to enjoy another success.

Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestler Sabah Shariati (130 kg) claimed bronze medal, gaining victory over German Eduard Popp.

Azerbaijani wrestler of Iranian origin Shariati shared his impression on the victory, saying that he is happy to raise Azerbaijani flag in the Olympics.

“I am very glad that I won the Olympic medal. We had very hard training and we were seriously preparing for this competition. Thanks God I could lift Azerbaijani flag. The German athlete in the final was very strong. Earlier, I lost to him in the European Championship. However, here thanks to efforts of my coaches I used a variety of techniques and won,” said the 27-year-old wrestler.

After the first battle with an American athlete it was hard for me, the bronze medalist emphasized, adding that he did not feel his body “I know that this is the first Olympic medal of Azerbaijan in the heavyweight. I present this medal to all Azerbaijanis.”

The national wrestler was defeated by Turkish Rize Kayaalpu in the quarterfinals, therefore losing hope for Olympic gold. However, Shariati was enough strong to win two fights with Venezuelan and German athletes.

Azerbaijan’s other two silver medals in Rio were taken by judokas Rustam Orudjev (73kg) and Elmar Gasimov (100kg).

Azerbaijan still has chances to win medals, since on the 12 day of the Olympics three national athletes will compete for medals. Twenty-four-year-old Rasul Chunayev at 66 kg, whom Azerbaijan has high expectations, will debut at the competition and in the 1/16 final he will meet athlete from Cuba Miguel Martinez.

In rowing the national Inna Osipenko-Radomskaya reached a final in K1 competed in 200 meter kayak race among women. The 34-year-old athlete will compete on Tuesday at 16:47 on Baku time.

Another Azerbaijani athlete, boxer Lorenzo Sotomayor, who compete at 64 kg, will meet in the quarter finals with Yasnielem Toledo from Cuba.

Azerbaijani squad is representing in Rio Olympics by 56 athletes who compete in 18 sports in both Summer Olympic Games and Summer Paralympic Games.

In the Rio Olympics the national team is represented by six freestyle wrestlers, eight wrestlers in Greco-Roman wrestling, 11 boxers, six judokas, five rowers, four athlete, four taekwondo fighters, three gymnasts, three cyclists, two swimmers and one athlete in fencing, triathlon, archery and shooting.

Compared to previous years, this year the country is represented in four new sports, including triathlon, archery, cycling and canoe slalom.

Thirty-six of 56 athletes participate in Olympic Games for the first time. During the Olympiad, the Azerbaijani team is accompanied by 34 coaches, six doctors, physiotherapists and technicians.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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