Azerbaijan enters Day 7 with 11 gold medals

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan’s athletes continue to joy the nation bringing the number of gold medals to 11 on the sixth day of the Baku 2015 European Games.

The host country now proudly possesses 23 medals in its coin box following the Russian team with 29 medals, 16 of which are gold. Azerbaijan is followed by Hungary that has 13 medals, 7 gold.

The Day 6 was memorable for the Azerbaijani athletes, who scored three gold medals.

Togrul Asgarov, 22, brought the country ninth gold in Wrestling Men’s 65 kg Freestyle category.

President Ilham Aliyev, chairperson of the Baku 2015 First European Games Organizing Committee Mehriban Aliyeva and family members watched the final bout.

On his way to the gold medal, Toghrul Asgarov defeated Mihail Sava of Moldova, Maxime Fiquet of France, Azamat Nurykau of Belarus, and Frank Chamizo Marquez of Italy.

Following, two-time Olympic bronze winner freestyle wrestler Khetag Gazyumov added the 10th gold to Azerbaijan’s medal count after emerging victorious in the 97kg weight category.

He defeated Georgia’s Elzibar Odikadze in the final bout.

Taekwondo fighter Aykhan Taghizade reached the final in the men’s 68kg weight category. On his way to the gold medal Taghizade defeated Jure Pantar of Slovenia, Gonzalez Bonilla of Spain, and Alexey Denisenko of Russia.

In the victory ceremony, President Aliyev presented the medals to the winning athletes.

The president also watched Azerbaijan vs Italy match in the women’s volleyball competition.

The Azerbaijani women's volleyball team picked up their third win in a row in the Group A after defeating Italy 3-1.

On the seventh day of the competitions, Azerbaijani athletes will compete in Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling Road, Diving, Shooting, Taekwondo, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

So far, the country possesses 12 medals in wrestling, six medals in karate, two medals in taekwondo, and by one medals in canoe sprint, gymnastics artistic, and triathlon.

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.