National judoka wins bronze at Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi

Azerbaijani female judoka Leyla Aliyeva has won a bronze medal at 2023 Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.

She secured the medal after beating Italian Francesca Milani in the women’s 48kg bronze medal bout, Azernews reports.

The 2023 Judo Grand Slam Abu Dhabi is a Judo Grand Slam tournament being held as part of the IJF World Tour and during the 2024 Summer Olympics qualification period.

Around 450 judokas from 77 countries are taking part in the tournament.

Founded in 1972, the Azerbaijan Judo Federation actively promotes this martial art across the country. Since 2015, the Federation has been led by Rovnag Abdullayev.

The country's modern judo history was laid by Mehman Azizov, who won a silver medal at the Old World Championship in 1998.

A year later, the winner of the World Youth Games in Moscow, Rasul Salimov, grabbed the bronze medal at the European Championship in Slovakia. Another national judoka Elchin Ismayilov became the European champion in 2000 in Wroclaw.

However, the achievements of Azerbaijani judo fighters did not stop there. Elnur Mammadli was named the best at the Beijing Olympics 2008 in the 73 kg division.

The Beijing Olympics 2008 gave a fresh impetus to judo in Azerbaijan.

The list of the country's top judo fighters includes Rustam Orujov, ?rina Kindzerskaya, Mammadali Mehdiyev, Elmar Gasimov, Hidayet Heydarov, Zelim Kotsoev, Ushangi Kokauri, and Nijat Shikhalizada.