National judo fighters on training camp in Tokyo

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan’s judo fighters are on a training camp in Tokyo, Japan.

The national squad includes Orkhan Safarov, Nijat Shikhalizade, Rustam Orujov, Hidayat Heydarov, Telman Valiyev, Mammadali Mehdiyev, Firudin Dadashov, Elkhan Mammadov, Zelim Kotsoyev, Ushangi Kokauri, Ichinkhorlo Munkhtsedev, Aisha Gurbanli, Nazakat Azizova and Khanim Huseynova.

Judokas train 2 times a day, managed by head coach Farhad Mammadov, coaches Movlud Miraliyev and Shumshat Bahramov. Orkhan Safarov, Nijat Shikhalizade, Rustam Orujov, Hidayat Heydarov, Telman Valiyev, Mammadali Mehdiyev, Firudin Dadashov, Elkhan Mammadov, Zelim Kotsoyev, Ushangi Kokauri, Ichinkhorloo Munkhtsedev, Aisha Gurbanli, Nazakat Azizova and Khanim Huseynova take part in the training camp.

The national teams of the world's leading judo countries  as Japan, France, South Korea, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Mongolia, Italy, Russia have also  joined annual trainings, Report.az reported.

Judo is one of the most developed kinds of sport in Azerbaijan, where the National Judo Federation was established in 1972.

The adult judo team of Azerbaijan made considerable progress in 2016. The team led by the Autsrian coach Peter Seisenbacher won 51 awards in competitions of various levels.

The Azerbaijani judo fighter, silver medalist of Rio-2016 Summer Olympic Games, Rustam Orujov was named the best in Azerbaijan's male team. Moreover, he is the strongest in the world in his weight class of 73kg, as well as among all weight classes.

The Azerbaijani judokas also showed good performance at the Rio-2016, bringing home two silver medals.

Next year the country's capital Baku will host the World Judo Championships 2018 among adults.