Azerbaijan secures 3 medals in 29th Summer Universiade

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijani sportsmen have already grabbed three medals at the 29th World Summer Universiade in Taipei City, Taiwan.

Held every two years, the Summer Universiade is the world's largest multi-sport event outside of the Olympic Games. This year's edition is held from August 19 to 30 in Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan.

Taipei welcomes more than 7,600 athletes from 131 nations competing in 275 events.  The Azerbaijani sportsmen compete in 4 different sports, including athletics, judo, taekwondo and weightlifting.

The country’s first and yet only gold was secured by judo fighter Zelim Kotsoyev in the men’s 100kg weight class.

Another judoka Firudin Dadashov grabbed a bronze medal at the 29th World Summer Universiade. He secured the medal in the men’s 90kg weight class.

The national taekwondo fighter, Aykhan Tagizadeh, (68 kg) won silver medal on August 22.

The 21-year-old athlete defeated Fabio Mattela (France) 19: 7, Jacob Barnett (Great Britain) 17: 9 and Xavier Perez (Spain) 9: 7 and reached the semifinals.

Tagizadeh also did not give a chance to Armenian rival Sergei Vardazaryan (31:14). He lost to Russia’s Krasnov 0:1 and won third medal for Azerbaijan in Universiade.

Another taekwondo fighter Elman Valiyev failed to win a medal and was ranked 5th in men’s 73 kg.

Taekwondo fighters Milad Beigi Harchegani (100kg) and Ali Mammadov (58kg) will vie for the medal on August 23.

Moreover, Safiye Polat (49 kg) and Farida Azizova (67 kg) will compete in women's competitions.

The national weightlifter, Azar Mammadli, will join 2017 Summer Universiade in men’s +105 kg on August 25.

The Summer Universiade is governed by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and is also known as the World University Games or the World Student Games.

The mascot of the Games is Bravo, a Formosan Black Bear. The gold medal worn by the mascot represents victory.

The mascot overall, represents the athletes' self-challenge and pursuit for excellence and hope and joy of all Universiade participating athletes from around the world.

The 2019 Winter Universiade will take place in Krasnoyarsk, the Russian Federation on March 2-12, 2019.