Azerbaijan first participated at the Olympic Games as an independent nation in 1996, and has sent athletes to compete in every Games since then. Azerbaijani athletes have won total of seven medals at the Beijing Olympics games, in wrestling, boxing and judo. They achieved one gold, two silver and four bronze medal in this Olympics. The country ranked 39th in the table of Olympic medals.The country’s delegation consists of eighteen competitors in four sports: seven judoka, seven track and field athletes, three power lifters, and one shooter. Mammadli Elnur earn the first Gold in judo competition. He is an amazing hero on his country. A few details of Azerbaijan Medalists.
1. MAMMADLI ELNUR
He is a dazzling performer from Azerbaijan. He won the gold medal in the Men’s Judo 73 kg competition. In the final Mammadli has beaten the favorite Wang Ki-Chun from Korea. He had also second place in the World Judo Championships 2007 and first place in the European Judo Championships 2006. Elnur technique is really good and he is brilliant athlete. He is greatest hero on his country and won his nation’s first Olympic golden medal.The 20-year-old take just 13 seconds of the final to throw 19-year-old world champion Wang Ki Chun of South Korea.
2. IMRANOV SHAHIN
He won the bronze medal in the Featherweight (57 kg) boxing. He defeated Georgia’s Nikoloz Izoria. He
participated in various championships, he won the silver medal in the 2002 European Amateur Boxing
Championships and two featherweight silver medals at European championships.That was his best achievements. He is very popular boxer and the bronze medal is greatest achievements of his future.
3. BAYRAMOV ROVSHAN
He won the silver medal in the Greco-Roman 55-kilogram final .The 21-year-old Bayramov lifted Mankiev for three points to take an early lead in the first period but was immediately turned by Mankiev, who scored the final four points of the period.The two tied at 2 in the second, with two-time European champion Bayramov again scoring first, but the 23-year-old Mankiev won because he scored last. Bayramov also won second place in 2006 World Championships.Bayramov successfully reached the final having beaten Mostafa Mohamed , Yagnier Hernandez , Roman Amoyan but lost to Nazyr Mankiev from Russia. Bayramov was great azerbaijan performer.
4. RAHIMOV VITALIY
Vitaliy Rahimov of Azerbaijan won the silver medal in the Men’s Greco-Roman 60 kg final wrestling event. Russia’s Islam-Beka Albiev catch for gold in this match, Rahimov won his quarter-final producing a shock by beating two-times Olympic champion Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria. Rahimov then earned his place in the final by winning against Kazakh Nurbakyt Tengizbayez.Rahimov is a former European champion, but the silver was easily his best finish in a world championship competition.He is very strong and one of the greatest wrestler in the world.
5. GAZYUMOV KHETAG
Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan won the Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medal at 96kilograms. Gazyumov took the first period 5-0 and went on to win the second 2-0. He overpowered Tibilov throughout the bout and didn’t give his opponent any chance to score.Twenty-five-year-old Gazyumov’s best senior achievement before this bronze medal was first place in the 2006 World Cup. He is currently studying agriculture in university.
6. STADNIK MARIYA
She won the bronze medal in the women’s wrestling 48-kilogram final. Azeri wrestler got a chance to compete two matches for a bronze medal if she wins the both matches.Canada won the gold medal in this match. Canada’s Huynh was rarely in any jeopardy other than her opening-round bout against Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan, when Huynh briefly fell behind 3-1 before rallying.Stadnik Mariya husband Andriy Standnik, Ukrainian sportsman who scored Olympic silver in freestyle wrestling event as well.
7. MIRALIYEV MOVLUD
Azerbaijan judoist Movlud Miraliyev won his first victory.He take the bronze medal in the men’s judo -100 kg class final and he defeated with Askhat Zhitkeyev of Kazakhstan. He finished fifth place in the half-heavyweight at the 2004 Summer Olympics and third place in World Judo Championships at 2003. The two participants share the bronze Medal in men’s judo competition at the beijing Olympics - one of Azebaijani judoist and other of Henk Grol of the Netherlands. The gold medal went to Tuvshinbayar Naidan’s of Mongolia. Movlud Miraliyev, reached semifinal after defeating Daniel Bratani of Bulgeria. Movlud Miraliyev won his first victory defeating a judoist from Algeria, second – Georgian sportsman Levan Jorjoliani.