"I am grateful to everyone who prayed for me and supported me. The competition was held at a high level and in a strong competitive environment. There were many ambitious rivals. This was one of the most important competitions for me."
Idman.Biz reports that these words were said by Ziya Babashov, the Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestler who became the champion at the "Muhamet Malo" tournament held in Tirana, the capital of Albania, in his statement to the official website of the federation.
The athlete, who climbed to the highest step of the podium in the 63 kg weight category, commented on his performance in the rating tournament: "I had good matches until the final. I met my teammate in the final. Although Sakit Guliyev and I are friends and teammates, we all do our best to win on the carpet. I hope we were able to show a final worthy match."
According to the athlete, many people - the coaching staff and the team - stand behind this victory:
"This success is also the result of their work. This is my first medal in a rating tournament. That's why I'm very proud. I believe that our successes will be continuous."