Azerbaijan Open ski tournament launches with international lineup photo

The Azerbaijan Open, an international alpine skiing tournament, has officially kicked off at the Shahdag Tourism Centre, launched in partnership with the Azerbaijan Winter Sports Federation and held under the official calendar of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.

According to domestic media, the opening ceremony drew high-level participation, including Youth and Sports Minister Farid Gayibov and Fuad Naghiyev, President of the Winter Sports Federation, who joined athletes and spectators as the competition got underway.

This year’s tournament brings together 20 female skiers from a wide range of countries and age categories, with participants travelling from Switzerland, Hungary, Slovenia, Georgia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Nepal, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan’s own Anastasia Papatoma is competing on home slopes, representing the host nation.

The multi-day event will continue through January 10, marking another step in Azerbaijan’s growing profile in winter sports.

By Tamilla Hasanova