A remarkable event occurred for Azerbaijan at the recent U15 European Wrestling Championship. Ulviyya Musayeva (33 kg) made history by becoming the country's first European champion in women's wrestling in this age category. How this success was achieved is even more impressive: the athlete had three matches, winning two of them by fall (pinning the opponent on their back for an early victory - ed.), and defeated her opponent 11:0 in the final.
Idman.Biz spoke with Ulviyya Musayeva about her historic victory and working with Maria Stadnik.
– It seemed that the European Championship was very easy for you...
– Yes, the tournament was really successful and relatively easy for me. The most difficult match was in the semi-final against my Ukrainian opponent. That match was also the most memorable.
– What feelings did you experience when you won?
– I felt great joy and pride. I knew that Azerbaijan had never had a European champion in women's wrestling in the U15 age category before. Being the first and making history with such a result is a special source of pride. When I went to the competition, I had a lot of faith in myself and I was sure that I would become a champion. Thank God, I achieved my goal.
– Who was the first person in your family you called to give this news?
– I called my mother first and shared my joy with her. My family played a very big role in this success. My parents and sisters have always believed in me. Their trust and moral support are one of the main reasons for my success.
– In general, how did you get into wrestling?
– My father used to wrestle. He often talked about this sport at home, and it aroused my interest. One day I told my father that I also wanted to start training. He was very happy about this and supported my decision. I love wrestling because this sport teaches me to be strong, disciplined and purposeful.
– Maria Stadnik works with the U15 national team. What is it like to train under her leadership?
– From the first day I started wrestling, I admired Maria Stadnik very much and chose her as my role model. She communicates with us regularly and works very hard. Training under her leadership is a great pleasure. Maria explains all the techniques and technical elements very accurately, simply and clearly. Taking advantage of her experience is a great advantage for us, and we learn a lot from her.
– What goals do you want to achieve in your sports career?
– My biggest goal is to win victories at the European and world championships, as well as at the Olympic Games, and to wave the Azerbaijani flag at the highest peaks. To do this, I will work harder and constantly improve. Taking this opportunity, I would also like to thank my personal coach, Elbrus Gahramanov, who has made a great contribution to this success. It was his hard work and support that played a special role in my reaching this level.