Azerbaijan army holds paramilitary cross championship to test combat readiness PHOTO

The Azerbaijan Army held a paramilitary cross championship in line with an order issued by First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff, Colonel General Karim Valiyev.

The competition opened with a minute of silence in honour of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Azerbaijani servicemen who died for the country, Caliber.Az reports via the Defence Ministry.

Personnel then performed the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, formally marking the start of the event.

Organisers verified team line-ups on the first day and conducted a draw to determine the order of participation. Eleven teams took part in the championship, with servicemen competing across several disciplines, including shooting, grenade throwing, and a three-metre cross course designed to test endurance, accuracy, and field readiness.

Participants demonstrated marksmanship, coordination, and physical resilience throughout the contest. Judges assessed both individual performance and overall team results based on cumulative scores across all disciplines.

At the conclusion of the championship, the Azerbaijan Army recognised the top performers. Winners received medals, diplomas, and trophies in both individual and team categories. Command representatives congratulated the servicemen before a formal closing ceremony and group photograph.

By Aghakazim Guliyev