Idman.biz
At the European Shooting Championship held in France, Azerbaijani snipers Niyaz Agazade and Regina Meftahaddinova won bronze medals in the skeet mixed team event. In total, Azerbaijani shooters won three medals in the competition.
This is the first European Championship medal for Regina Meftahaddinova, daughter of the famous Azerbaijani athlete, Sydney 2000 Olympic champion and 2004 Olympic Games bronze medalist, Zemfira Meftahaddinova. It should be noted that Zemfira Meftahaddinova is currently the vice-president of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee.
In an interview with Idman.biz, the prominent athlete spoke about how she reacted to her daughter's success at the continental championship.
- Did you follow your daughter's performance at the European Championship?
- Of course, we watched it on television. We were very excited. In general, it is not easy to support an athlete, especially when it is not just an athlete, but your own daughter.
- This is her first medal at the European Championship...
- Indeed, this is her first medal at this level. Regina has been very close to the podium with Niyaz Agazade before, but they were not lucky every time. This time, thank God, everything worked out. Regina was also close to winning a license for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. We have excellent kids, they all work hard and I am sure they will achieve great success in the future.
- What did you feel when you saw your daughter win a medal at the European Championship?
- (laughs) These are motherly feelings. Of course, joy. Parents are always happy when their children succeed. It is very difficult to watch their children's performances. I can imagine how difficult it is for Regina's coach, Emil Jafarov.
May God grant success to our children. I support not only my daughter, but all Azerbaijani athletes. I hope that our sport will develop and achieve success. I believe that our shooters will continue their victories in the international arena - as they have already shown in France.
- How do you think, will Regina not only repeat your path in the future, but also surpass your achievements?
- Everything is possible in sports. The children work hard, and the result at the European Championship is proof of this. As for the prospects, time will tell. We all work for a common cause. I am sure that everything will be fine. The Federation creates all the necessary conditions, and the athletes work with maximum effort.
- The new Olympic cycle has already begun. How do you assess the beginning of this period for Azerbaijani sports?
- If we look at the results of the first half of the year, we can say that it was successful. The year is not over yet and I am sure that our athletes will perform even better in the second half of the year.
Let's hope that everything will be fine. I am not a coach, but I am always ready to give advice and share experience. In competitions, everything depends on the athletes themselves. No one can do anything for them - everyone builds their own happiness (laughs).
Idman.biz
