Budapest Triumph and the Success of a New Generation

In recent years, there has hardly been a major international tournament or prestigious competition at which Azerbaijani judokas have not raised our national flag through outstanding performances and proudly upheld the country’s sporting honour. These consistent achievements are by no means accidental. They are the natural result of the strong attention and support provided by the state to sport and athletes, as well as the effective, systematic and forward-looking work of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation.

The remarkable pace of development and the steady series of achievements in Azerbaijani judo demonstrate that the country is not only nurturing today’s champions, but also laying a solid foundation for even greater victories in the future.

The latest compelling evidence of this progress came at the prestigious Grand Slam tournament held in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Taking place on September 11–13 and offering qualification points towards the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympic Games, the competition saw Azerbaijan represented by 16 judokas — 12 men and four women — across 11 weight categories. Once again, the tournament showcased the depth of talent and the strong competitive reserves within Azerbaijani judo.

It was a particular source of pride for me to attend this major sporting event in Budapest in person and witness the intense contests involving our judokas. Their determination, the celebrations of victory on the tatami and the sight of Azerbaijan’s tricolour flying proudly filled me, as an Azerbaijani, with an immense sense of pride.

Sharing the joy of our athletes’ victories there, at the very heart of the competition, was an unforgettable experience that is difficult to put into words. The one gold and two bronze medals secured by our national team on the Budapest tatami became a vivid reflection of both individual excellence and outstanding team spirit.

Rashid Mammadaliyev (73 kg), who entered the competition in the Round of 64, delivered an exceptional performance by winning six demanding bouts in succession. In the final, he defeated Sweden’s Narek Vardanyan to claim his first-ever Grand Slam title.

Having previously won two silver and three bronze medals at Grand Slam events, Rashid’s rise to the top step of the podium this time was a clear testament to his relentless determination, continued development and growing maturity as an elite athlete.

Vusal Galandarzade (81 kg), who also began his campaign in the Round of 64, defeated Slovenia’s Natse Herkovic in the decisive bronze-medal contest to secure third place. It marked the young judoka’s second medal at a Grand Slam tournament.

Competing in the heavyweight category, Jamal Gamzatkhanov (+100 kg) began his tournament in the Round of 32 and went on to defeat Ukraine’s Yakiv Khammo by ippon in the bronze-medal bout.

The result marked Jamal’s fourth medal on the World Judo Tour this season. Earlier, he had already claimed bronze medals at the Tashkent and Dushanbe Grand Slams, as well as at the Upper Austria Grand Prix.

One of the most significant and inspiring aspects of the Budapest tournament was Azerbaijan’s performance in the team standings. The Azerbaijani men’s national team finished first, outperforming traditional judo powerhouses with rich sporting legacies such as Japan and Russia. In the overall team standings, Azerbaijan secured an impressive fifth place.

Yet the true strategic significance of this tournament goes far beyond the medal table.

With leading members of the national team — Olympic and world champions Hidayat Heydarov and Zelym Kotsoiev — absent due to injury, the ability of Azerbaijan’s younger judokas to compete at such a high level demonstrates the strength of the foundations on which the country’s judo system has been built.

It is clear evidence that a reliable new generation is emerging within the national team, that the tradition of sporting continuity is being successfully preserved, and that Azerbaijan’s young judokas are fully prepared to make their presence felt on the international stage.

The Budapest triumph gives rise to considerable hope and optimism ahead of the World Championships to be held in October this year and, ultimately, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Once again, we can see that when a purposeful national sports policy, professional federation management and the determination of young athletes come together, the sight of the Azerbaijani flag rising above the tatami becomes not an exception, but a natural outcome.

We firmly believe that this successful tradition in Azerbaijani judo will continue with honour at future World Championships and on the Olympic stage.

Azer Asgarov