Azeri judo wrestler makes history with unexpected win in Beijing
An Azerbaijani judo wrestler scored a stunning win in just 13
seconds of the men`s 73kg final on Monday, claiming Azerbaijan`s
first gold medal at the 29th Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Elnur Mammadli, 20, beat 19-year-old world champion, Wang Ki Chun, with a te-guruma (leg grab) attack that scored ippon before the South Korean even had time to settle into the match, AFP news agency reported.
Mammadli took a total of six minutes to win the tournament. His victory in the final was the quickest win in the history of the Olympic Games.
It was sweet revenge for the Azerbaijani who lost to Wang in the World Championship final in Rio de Janeiro one year ago.
"He won at the world championships and I won here. He`s a powerful competitor, the same as the other medalists," said Mammadli.
Wang revealed he had injured a rib in an earlier contest, but refused to make excuses for his defeat.
"I tried to forget about it, but the fight ended so quickly that I can`t say it had any effect on my performance," he added.
Mammadli had previously scored quick wins over a Belgian opponent, Dirk van Tichelt, in his first match, followed by a Belarusian wrestler and Kim Chol Sun of Korea. In the semifinal, he was victorious after scoring ippon against Iran`s Ali Malomat.
President Ilham Aliyev, who attended the awards ceremony, congratulated the Azerbaijani athlete on his success.
Mammadli won the European championship in 2006, followed by a silver medal at the World Championship in 2007.
Azerbaijani athletes winning gold medals at the Olympics will be awarded 600,000 manats ($740,000) by the government.
Two other Azerbaijani wrestlers won silver medals on Tuesday.
Greco-Roman wrestler Vitali Rahimov, who was a step away from victory, lost to his Russian opponent, Islambek Albiyev, in the 66 kg final.
Rahimov had proceeded to the final after beating a wrestler from China, the Romanian world champion, the two-time Olympic champion from Bulgaria in the quarter final, and his Kazakh opponent in the semi-final.
Another Azerbaijani wrestler, Rovshan Bayramov, who competed in the 55 kg bracket, lost to his Russian opponent, Nazar Mankiyev, in the final match.
Bayramov had cruised to the final after sealing overwhelming wins over his rivals from Egypt, Cuba and Armenia.
As of Tuesday, Azerbaijan ranks 12th among over 200 states at the Olympics, with three medals won so far.
Elnur Mammadli, 20, beat 19-year-old world champion, Wang Ki Chun, with a te-guruma (leg grab) attack that scored ippon before the South Korean even had time to settle into the match, AFP news agency reported.
Mammadli took a total of six minutes to win the tournament. His victory in the final was the quickest win in the history of the Olympic Games.
It was sweet revenge for the Azerbaijani who lost to Wang in the World Championship final in Rio de Janeiro one year ago.
"He won at the world championships and I won here. He`s a powerful competitor, the same as the other medalists," said Mammadli.
Wang revealed he had injured a rib in an earlier contest, but refused to make excuses for his defeat.
"I tried to forget about it, but the fight ended so quickly that I can`t say it had any effect on my performance," he added.
Mammadli had previously scored quick wins over a Belgian opponent, Dirk van Tichelt, in his first match, followed by a Belarusian wrestler and Kim Chol Sun of Korea. In the semifinal, he was victorious after scoring ippon against Iran`s Ali Malomat.
President Ilham Aliyev, who attended the awards ceremony, congratulated the Azerbaijani athlete on his success.
Mammadli won the European championship in 2006, followed by a silver medal at the World Championship in 2007.
Azerbaijani athletes winning gold medals at the Olympics will be awarded 600,000 manats ($740,000) by the government.
Two other Azerbaijani wrestlers won silver medals on Tuesday.
Greco-Roman wrestler Vitali Rahimov, who was a step away from victory, lost to his Russian opponent, Islambek Albiyev, in the 66 kg final.
Rahimov had proceeded to the final after beating a wrestler from China, the Romanian world champion, the two-time Olympic champion from Bulgaria in the quarter final, and his Kazakh opponent in the semi-final.
Another Azerbaijani wrestler, Rovshan Bayramov, who competed in the 55 kg bracket, lost to his Russian opponent, Nazar Mankiyev, in the final match.
Bayramov had cruised to the final after sealing overwhelming wins over his rivals from Egypt, Cuba and Armenia.
As of Tuesday, Azerbaijan ranks 12th among over 200 states at the Olympics, with three medals won so far.
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