Azerbaijani judokas Hidayat Heydarov and Zelim Kotsoyev, who won the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, have returned to their homeland, APA reports.
Our Olympic champions were met at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport by representatives of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, media representatives, fans and relatives.
Kh. Heydarov, who joined the Olympic competition from the quarterfinal stage, defeated Israeli athlete Tohar Butbul in the first match, and Canadian Arthur Margelido in the quarterfinals by ippon. He won the Olympic champion title by defeating Kosovar Akil Gjakov in the semifinals and Frenchman John Benjamin Gabu in the finals.
Zelim Kotsoyev, who started the competition from the 1/8 finals, met Pole Piotr Kuchera in the first match. Our European and World Champion, who defeated his opponent by ippon, advanced to the quarterfinals. At this stage, our athlete advanced to the semifinals, having defeated the representative of Israel, Peter Palchik. Here, he defeated the Uzbek Muzaffarbek Turoboev in waze-ari and advanced to the final. In the decisive round, our representative became the Olympic champion, having disappointed the Georgian Ilya Sulamanidze by ippon.
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