New appointments were made to national teams

The Azerbaijan Judo Federation (ACF) has decided to make a number of changes in the coaching staff in order to align the work of national teams of all age categories with international standards and to ensure an effective transition of identified talents to the level of elite athletes on the eve of the new Olympic cycle. Sport24.az reports that Rashad Rasulllu, Executive Vice President of ACF, commenting on the new coaching appointments, said that these changes are an important step taken by the Federation towards the formation of an elite judo team that can compete globally. The head coach of the men's national team, Richard Trautmann, has been appointed as the performance director, who will oversee the organization and coordination of the activities of the national teams in all age groups. He will also continue to act as the head coach of the men's national team. Elkhan Mammadov has been appointed as the senior coach of the men's national team. Prior to this, he worked as the head coach of the youth national team. Also, Robert Kravchik, who has worked as the head and senior coach in the national teams of Poland, Austria and Belgium, will also work as the senior coach of the men's national team. Kravchik's students, who has been coaching since 2013, have repeatedly become prize-winners of the Olympic Games, European Games and championships. The position of head coach of the national youth team was entrusted to Rustam Alimli, who was previously the head coach of the national cadet team. Emin Iskandarov, who previously worked as a coach in this team, has been appointed as the head coach of the national cadet team. In order to ensure that the technical and tactical training of the national youth and cadet teams meets modern standards, Kotaro Sasaki will work as a coach in these teams. Sasaki, a graduate of the famous "Tokai" University of Japan, has been working as a coach in a number of clubs in Japan and Europe since 2016, as well as for a certain period of time as the main coach of the cadet team at the Polish Judo Federation, as well as an assistant coach for the Olympic team and the youth national team. Sasaki's students have been prize-winners of world championships among adults and youth. Cooperation with the head coach of the women's national team Rashad Mammadov has been terminated by mutual agreement. The Federation thanked Rashad Mammadov for his services and wished him success in his future activities. Amina Abdullatif has been appointed as the head coach of the women's national team. Abdullatif, who has coaching experience since 2006, previously worked as a coach for the youth and cadet national teams of France, and in recent years has been the head of the judo department at the French National Sports Institute. Her students have repeatedly been prize-winners of world and European championships among adults, youth and cadets. Sasha Herkenrat-Vimar has been appointed as the coach of the women's national team. The specialist, who has been coaching since 2016, has repeatedly had his students become prize-winners of international competitions, including the European Championship