Idman.biz
Karate fighter Asiman Gurbanli, who was the flag bearer of Azerbaijan at the Opening Ceremony of the III CIS Games, became a silver medalist of the Games.
Idman.biz reports that he shared his impressions about the medal he won with journalists.
"Actually, my feelings are mixed. I am the oldest athlete in the team - I am 33 years old. I had two operations and set a goal for myself: to recover as soon as possible and participate in these Games. I was able to recover and participate in the competition in just two months. This is a very short time. I think this is a pretty serious achievement in itself.
Age and injuries are showing, but despite this, I am showing better results than young athletes. I have started training again at full strength in the last two or three months and I believe that I will further improve my form," said Asiman.
However, he does not hide that he also feels pressure. "I don't like to lose. When I lose, I take it very hard. Sometimes I criticize myself, I am harsh on myself, but I try not to show these feelings in public. These are the emotions I experience inside."
Carrying the Azerbaijani flag is a special source of pride for Asiman Gurbanli. "It was a great honor for me to carry the Azerbaijani flag to the arena. Especially the presence of President Ilham Aliyev at the ceremony made this moment even more special for me. This was one of the most important and memorable moments of my life."
