Idman.biz
Tomorrow, well-known names will also compete at the World Judo Championships among veterans, which will start in Paris, the capital of France. One of them is Movlud Miraliyev, the bronze medalist of the Olympic and World Championships, who will participate in the competition as part of the Azerbaijani national team.
Idman.Biz reports that the 51-year-old judoka, who is currently the chairman of the Sports Society of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and a police colonel, will once again enter the tatami in his favorite - 100 kg weight category.
The experienced athlete gave an interview to our website before the competition:
How is he in shape despite the fact that so many years have passed since he finished his professional career, and what goal has he set for himself in Paris? We started our short conversation with these questions:
- Yes, although I am an official now, it does not mean that I only deal with paperwork. As soon as I have the opportunity, I try to maintain my physical form, I go to the gym, I train. Therefore, I have maintained the weight I had during my sports career. Moreover, due to my position, it is my duty to "fight" against the excess weight of police officers. That is, at least with my personal example, I must show how not to fall out of shape. In addition, after deciding to participate in the World Championship, I intensified my training even more.
- What is your goal?
- What other goal can there be than victory?
- If I'm not mistaken, this is your third participation in the World Championships among veterans?
- Yes, that's absolutely right. I performed in Malaga in 2014 and in Abu Dhabi in 2023. I won both times. Now I'm thinking: I was third among professionals once, so why shouldn't I be first three times among veterans? (laughs) But seriously, I just miss the atmosphere of judo, those feelings before the fights, communication with former rivals.
- Is the competition here as strong as it is among adults?
- Of course. Here there are not only weight, but also age categories, so there are many athletes. As far as I know, more than 2,500 judokas in various weight and age categories will participate in this championship. I will compete in the weight category up to 100 kg, among judokas aged 50–55. Maybe we are not as fast as we were in our youth, but the passion on the tatami has not diminished at all, and the desire to win has not yet been exhausted.
Vugar Vugarli
