Judo: Yekaterinburg resident Sakhavat Gadzhiev won the European Cup Pupil of the children's and youth sports school Victoria, 18-year-old Yekaterinburg judoka Sakhavat Gadzhiev became

Judo: Yekaterinburg resident Sakhavat Gadzhiev won the European Cup

A pupil of the Victoria children's and youth sports school, 18-year-old Yekaterinburg judoka Sakhavat Gadzhiev became the winner of the European Cup in judo among athletes under 20 years old, the Department for the Development of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Yekaterinburg City Administration reported.

The competitions, which took place in French Lyon, brought together the strongest juniors from 12 countries of the world. Sakhavat had five fights, and all of them ended with the victory of the Yekaterinburger. This season, the winner of the European and world championships in judo moved from the weight category of 55 kg to a heavier one – 60 kg, so coaches Olga Selyanina and Maxim Fedoseyev had busy days, the city sports department notes. In addition, at the recent Russian championship, Gadzhiev became only a bronze medalist. He also brought bronze from the European Cup in judo, which was held in St. Petersburg in April this year.

“Naturally, we were very worried about Sakhavat,” admitted one of Gadzhiev's coaches Maxim Fedoseev, “transition to a heavier category is always very nervous. He was very upset after the Russian championship. Our task with Olga Selyanina was to bring him to the French European Cup in good not even physical, but psychological form. And we did it. Yes Sakhavat was ready for victory himself, he is in excellent physical shape today and clearly proved this in Lyon.”

The coaches were doubly worried, because the Lyon competition was the last qualifying tournament before the junior judo championship, which will be held in September this year in Croatia.

As for the European Cup in France, the most difficult fight for Sakhavat was the fight with compatriot Eldar Magomedov. It was to him that he lost for reaching the final at the Russian championship. But in Lyon, the Uralian took a worthy revenge and then confidently defeated the French athlete Corad Rubin in the final.

From France, Sakhavat Hajiyev went to Dmitrov, where a two-week training camp will take place. Then he will return home – to Yekaterinburg.