Azerbaijani boxers aim to finals

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan’s national team at the Baku 2015 European Games welcomes the Day 14 of the competitions with 40 medals, still staying second in the overall ranking.

Leaving behind 13 days of the competitions, Russia now has 109 medals. Germany is the third with 40 medals, 13 of which are gold.

Azerbaijani athlete Tayfur Aliyev competing in the men’s 56 kg boxing semi-finals won a bronze medal on June 24. In the event’s semi-finals he lost to Russia’s Bahtovar Nazirov, 2-1.

Ten members of the Azerbaijani national team continue to fight for the gold medals in boxing, as they made their way to the semifinals.

Yana Alekseeva (57-60 kg) and Haybula Musalov (75 kg) entered the semifinals on June 24. Anna Alimardanova (51-54 kg), Collazo Sotomayor (64 kg), Albert Salimov (60 kg), Parviz Bagirov (56 kg) and Abdulkadir Abdullayev (91 kg) reached the semifinals on June 23.

Earlier, four more Azerbaijani boxers Elvin Mamishzade (52 kg), Tayfur Aliyev (56 kg), Teymur Mammadov (81 kg) and Magomedrasul Majidov (+91 kg) managed to get into the semifinals.

Azerbaijani super heavyweight Majidov had to pull out of the Baku 2015 boxing tournament because of an injury. However, he will prepare for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Azerbaijani boxer, medal winner in world and European championships, Teymur Mammadov, competing in men’s light heavy (81 kg), advanced to the finals on June 24.

In the semifinals, Teymur Mammadov defeated Russia’s Pavel Silyagin, 3:0.

Mammadov hopes to win a gold medal.

“My semifinal match with the Russian boxer was not easy,” Mammadov told reporters. "I had a strong contender,” he said. “I have been able to win because I am more experienced."

Mammadov also spoke about the upcoming match in the final. He will compete with Italian boxer Valentino Manfredonia.

"I do not know my opponent,” he said. “I have never met with him. I hope that everything will be good.”

Today, the competition will be held in badminton, fencing, beach soccer, swimming, boxing, judo, volleyball and basketball 3x3. Twenty one sets of medals: five in judo, two in fencing, nine in swimming and five in boxing will be played as part of the competition.

Azerbaijani sportsmen will participate in competitions in beach soccer, basketball 3x3, boxing, judo, volleyball and fencing.