Azerbaijani judoka clinches gold at 2024 Olympic Games Hidayat Heydarov becomes Olympic champion/VIDEO

In a momentous achievement for Azerbaijan, Hidayat Heydarov has won the gold medal in judo at the 2024 Olympic Games. Heydarov triumphed over Joan-Benjamin Gaba of France in the final, securing his place as an Olympic champion.

As reported by Caliber.Az, Heydarov's victory in the final was a significant milestone for the Azerbaijani athlete. The match saw Heydarov display remarkable skill and determination, ultimately leading to his triumph over Gaba.

Congratulations are in order for Hidayat Heydarov on his extraordinary accomplishment. His brilliant performance in the final, where he defeated Joan-Benjamin Gaba, has made him a true champion.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Hidayat Heydarov had advanced to the semifinal match at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. According to a report from Paris, the Azerbaijani judoka, competing in the 73 kg weight category, faced Akil Gjakova of Kosovo in the semifinal. Heydarov's victory over Gjakova propelled him to the final stage of the competition.

The judo competitions at the 2024 Olympics in Paris have been closely followed by fans and enthusiasts. The leader of the Azerbaijani judo team, Hidayat Heydarov, took to the tatami, starting his journey in the round of 16 after being free in the first round. He first defeated Tohar Butbul of Israel, then went on to overcome Arthur Margelidon of Canada, advancing to the semifinals. His opponent in the semifinal was the winner of the match between Manuel Lombardo of Italy and Akil Gjakova of Kosovo. This marked Heydarov's debut at the Olympics, making his victory even more impressive.

It is noteworthy that Azerbaijani judokas secured nine licenses for the Olympics. However, some of them, including Leyla Aliyeva (48 kg), Gultaj Mammadaliyeva (52 kg), Balabay Agayev (60 kg), and Yashar Najafov (66 kg), were eliminated in the early rounds.

Adding to the celebrations, on July 29, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva personally called Hidayat Heydarov to congratulate him on his outstanding victory. According to Caliber.Az, citing the press service of the President of Azerbaijan, the head of state and the first lady expressed their heartfelt congratulations to Heydarov, commending his brilliant performance in the judo competitions at the Olympics.

In response, Hidayat Heydarov expressed his gratitude to President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their phone call and sincere congratulations. He emphasized his pride in seeing the national flag of Azerbaijan raised and the national anthem played at the Olympics, and he vowed to continue working diligently to achieve new successes for his country.

Hidayat Heydarov's remarkable achievement has brought immense pride to Azerbaijan, and his future in judo looks exceedingly bright.