APA chosen best sport agency of the year

Opening the ceremony, Youth and Sport Minister Azad Rehimov stated that Azerbaijani sportsmen won 287 medals this year, APA reports.

He also mentioned that President Ilham Aliyev awarded 7 coaches with merit pension. National Olympic Commission vice-president Chingiz Huseynov and Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Ismayil Ismayilov pointed out that 2006 was a successful year for Azerbijani sport. It was also mentioned that 2007 will be tense for the national sportsmen to grant license for Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Then the best sportsmen of the year were awarded. National team member in Greco-Roman wrestling, Rovshen Bayramov, 19, was the best sportsman of 2006. Ilkin Shahbazov, winner of bronze medal at the last world championship in free-style wrestling was the second and Ilkin Abbasov, winner of European championship in taekwondo, was the third best sportsman of the year. Elbrus Mammedli, champion of Europe in judo, was in the fourth place, Nigar Bagirova, silver medal winner of European championship in shooting, the fifth and Samir Mammedov, silver medalist of European championship in boxing the sixth place. Natalya Mammedova (volleyball), Rufet Agayev (powerlifting), Gurban Tagiyev (karate) and Eduard Mammedov (kickboxing) were among 10 best sportsmen of 2006. The best trainer of the year was Elchin Jafarov, national team trainer of Greco-Roman wrestling. Azerbaijani volleyball team was the best team of the year. The best referee of the year was Rovshan Huseynov, the best sport channel was Space, the best sport agency was Azeri-Press Information Agency, the best sport was reporter Zeki Feyzullayev and the best veteran sportsman was Ferhad Rejebli.