Grand Slam Baku expects Azeri medals

The Azerbaijan Judo Federation is eagerly welcoming athletes from around the world to participate in the three-day Baku Grand Slam on the IJF World Judo Tour this week. As the host nation, Azerbaijan is sending in a strong contingent of judo talents aiming for gold medals. Among the notable competitors are Hidayat Heydarov, who holds the top spot in the world rankings in the U73kg category, along with Zelim Kotsoiev in the U100kg category, and Saeid Mollaei in the U81kg category.

Additionally, the team includes Paris Grand Slam silver medalists Zelim Tckaev in the U81kg category and Eljan Hajiye in the U90kg category. Notably, Tckaev will be defending his title from 2023 on home turf, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the event.

It is the tenth edition of the Grand Slam in Baku. Before this decade of judo history, the tournament had the status of a Grand Prix, also in the IJF World Tour (started in December 2008).

From 2006 until 2011 Baku was hosting a World Cup event under the organisation of the European Judo Union. In 2018 Baku was the host of the World Championships.

With 413 registered athletes, the tournament will be strong. The record of participants was achieved in the Olympic year 2016 with 447 judoka, 278 men, 169 women, followed by 2022 with 446 judoka, 264 men, 182 women.

The Azeri duo Turan Bayramov and Balabay Aghayev will catch the eyes of the home crowd at the first day in the U60kg category. The U66kg men’s division is lead by Azerbaijan’s Yashar Najafov.

Hidayat Heydarov is the current World Ranking Leader U73kg. In 2017 he was already World Ranking leader in Juniors. Rustam Orujov was also World Ranking leader U73kg during periods from 2015-2020. Former Olympic Champion Elnur Mammadli led the World Ranking U73kg in 2009 in the year after his Olympic title of Beijing.

In the -81kg category Mollaei and Tckaev are two very strong competitors for Azerbaijan. Tckaev was very strong in Paris where he took silver but the competition U81kg will be severe at the second day.

Some of the famous winners of the Grand Slam in Baku became Olympic Champion.

•             Khasan Khalmurzaev (RUS) and Mashu Basker (JPN) won the Grand Slam in Baku in 2015, they became Olympic Champion of Rio in 2016.

•             Takanori Nagase (JPN) won the Grand Slam in Baku in 2016, he became Olympic Champion of Tokyo in 2021.

•             Rafaela Silva (BRA) and Chizuru Arai won the Grand Slam in Baku in 2019, both became Olympic Champion of Tokyo in 2021.

•             Nora Gjakova (KOS) won the Grand Slam in Baku last year as reigning Olympic Champion.

Profile Hidayat Heydarov

Heydarov captured the gold medal at the Grand Slam in Tokyo in 2023. He is triple European Senior champion in 2017 and 2022 and 2023. He won bronze at the World Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2022. He is the only male judoka ever to win all four different European titles. Heydarov became World Junior Champion in Zagreb in 2017. Hidayat triumphed at the Grand Slam Baku in 2023 and 2021.