President Aliyev congratulates world athletics champion Ramil Guliyev

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has congratulated the world athletics champion, Ramil Guliyev, Azertac reported.

The congratulatory message reads:

“Dear Ramil, first of all, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to you as you became a world athletics champion.

I would like to note that for the first time in history an Azerbaijani sportsman became a world athletics champion. What is especially pleasant is that to celebrate your victory you raised the Azerbaijani and Turkish flags. This shows that you are attached to your people, that you are a patriot.

Today you represent Turkey, but you took your first steps in sports in Azerbaijan.

I also congratulate Turkey on the occasion of this victory. Your victory is, at the same time, yet another indicative of Azerbaijani-Turkish friendship and brotherhood. We are proud of you in Azerbaijan.

I wish you further success in sports.”

Ramil Guliyev became the world champion on August 10 and gave Turkey its first gold medal in the men's 200 meters in his surprising victory at the world championships in London.

Guliyev, who is a member of Turkey’s Fenerbahçe sports club, finished the race in 20.09 seconds, ahead of South African Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Premier Binali Yildirim and Fenerbahce Sports Club Chairman Aziz Yildirim also congratulated Guliyev.

Speaking to TRT Sports, Guliyev thanked all those, who supported him and said it was “an amazing race” for him.