Azerbaijan tops Baku 2015 ranking

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan entered the fourth day of the European Games with 13 medals, thus becoming the first in the overall ranking. The host country is followed by Russia with five gold medals and Turkey with four gold.

Azerbaijan’s Sabah Shariati has won silver in the men’s 130kg wrestling, increasing his country’s haul to 13 medals. He was defeated by Turkey’s Riza Kayaalp in the final bout.

So far, Azerbaijan won medals in karate, triathlon and wrestling. To date, Azerbaijan enjoys six gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

The gold medals came from karateka Firdovsi Farzaliyev, karateka Rafael Aghayev, karateka Aykhan Mamayev, wrestler Elvin Mursaliyev, wrestler Rasul Chunayev, and female karateka Irina Zaretska.

The silver came from wrestler Rafig Huseynov and wrestler Sabahi Shariati. Karateka Niyazi Aliyev, female karateka Ilaha Gasimova, wrestler Elman Mukhtarov and wrestler Hasan Aliyev as well as triathlon athlete Rostyslav Pevtsov brought Azerbaijan five bronze medals.

On June 15, Azerbaijan may gain more medals in canoe sprint in Minghachevir, gymnastics artistic, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling in Baku.

Baku 2015 European Games is an innovative competition that gathered over 6,000 athletes from 50 countries to compete in 20 sports. Twelve sports will provide licenses for Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Baku.

The magnificent opening ceremony of the Games warmed hearts of Azerbaijanis and showed the history of the country around the world on June 12. The event will last until June 28.