Sport in Azerbaijan
Encyclopedia
Sport in Azerbaijan
has ancient roots, and even now, both traditional and modern sports are still practiced. Freestyle wrestling
has been traditionally regarded as Azerbaijan's national sport
, however today, the most popular sports in Azerbaijan are football and chess
.
remains a historically important sport of Azerbaijan and often even referred to as its national sport
.
Both freestyle
and Greco-Roman wrestling
, particularly freestyle, are popular in Azerbaijan.
With a history of great wrestlers, such as Namig Abdullayev
, Farid Mansurov
, Rovshan Bayramov
, Mariya Stadnik
, Azerbaijan is considered among the elite nations in this sport.
is a game that has ancient roots in the Persian Empire and plays major role in Azerbaijani culture. This game is very popular in Azerbaijan and widely played among local public. There are also different variations of backgammon developed and analysed by Azerbaijani experts.
, chess is still extremely popular. Notable chess players of Azerbaijan includes Teimour Radjabov
, Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Vladimir Makogonov
, Max Mosnta, Vugar Gashimov
and Zeinab Mamedyarova
. Azerbaijan has also hosted many international chess tournaments and competitions and became European Team Chess Championship winners in 2009.
In 2009, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev
issued an order to improve development of chess in the Azerbaijan from 2009 to 2014 period.
Football is popular in Azerbaijan, the most internationally known player being Rashad Sadygov
and Vagif Javadov, who played for PFC Neftchi Baku, FK Karabakh
, Kayserispor
, Kocaelispor
and Azerbaijan national football team
. Other famous Azerbaijani players include Zaur Ramazanov
, Kazbek Tuayev, Nazim Suleymanov
, Vali Gasimov, Gurban Gurbanov
, Vidadi Rzayev
, Zaur Tagizade
and Mahmud Gurbanov.
The 1960s are considered the Golden Age
for Azerbaijani football, as they produced great players like Anatoliy Banishevskiy
, Alakbar Mammadov and football referee Tofik Bakhramov
, who's most famous for being a linesman
who helped to award a goal for England in the 1966 World Cup Final between England and West Germany.
The top football teams in Azerbaijan
are FK Baku
, PFC Neftchi Baku, FK Karabakh
and Khazar Lankaran.
On March 19, 2010, Azerbaijan won the bid to host the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
.
than football. In the late 1980s, it was here that influenced the creation of the Russian futsal club MFK Dina Moskva
, who dominated the futsal in post-Soviet countries during 1990's. Azerbaijan national futsal team
and clubs like Araz Naxçivan
achieved significant results in Europe, so it is not surprising that the sport enjoys wide popularity in the country.
like judo
have also brought many medals to this country, namely Elnur Mammadli
who conquered gold at the European Championships and 2008 Summer Olympics
in the -73 kg category, and Movlud Miraliyev
who won the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics
and World Judo Championships
in 2003.
developed rapidly in Azerbaijan. Many Azerbaijani rhythmic gymnasts such as Aliya Garayeva
, Anna Gurbanova
and Dinara Gimatova
are among the leading rhythmic gymnasts in the world.
first participated at the Olympic Games
as an independent nation in 1996, and has sent athletes to compete in every Games since then.
Azerbaijan has participated in the following Summer Olympic Games
to date:
Azerbaijan has participated in the following Winter Olympic Games
to date:
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
has ancient roots, and even now, both traditional and modern sports are still practiced. Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
has been traditionally regarded as Azerbaijan's national sport
National sport
A national sport or national pastime is a sport or game that is considered to be an intrinsic part of the culture of a nation. Some sports are de facto national sports, as baseball is in the U.S., while others are de jure as lacrosse and ice hockey are in Canada.-De jure national sports:-De facto...
, however today, the most popular sports in Azerbaijan are football and chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
.
Wrestling
WrestlingWrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
remains a historically important sport of Azerbaijan and often even referred to as its national sport
National sport
A national sport or national pastime is a sport or game that is considered to be an intrinsic part of the culture of a nation. Some sports are de facto national sports, as baseball is in the U.S., while others are de jure as lacrosse and ice hockey are in Canada.-De jure national sports:-De facto...
.
Both freestyle
Freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...
and Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
, particularly freestyle, are popular in Azerbaijan.
With a history of great wrestlers, such as Namig Abdullayev
Namig Abdullayev
Namig Yadulla oglu Abdullayev was an Azerbaijani Olympic Champion wrestler, winning a gold medal in freestyle for Azerbaijan at the 2000 Summer Olympics...
, Farid Mansurov
Farid Mansurov
Farid Mansurov is a former Azerbaijani wrestler who competed in the Men's Greco-Roman 66 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal....
, Rovshan Bayramov
Rovshan Bayramov
Rovshan Bayramov is an Azerbaijani athlete.In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bayramov successfully reached the final having beaten Mostafa Mohamed , Yagnier Hernandez , Roman Amoyan but lost to Nazyr Mankiev from Russia. Coach: Hijran Sharifov.-References:*...
, Mariya Stadnik
Mariya Stadnik
Mariya Vasilyevna Stadnik is an Azerbaijani wrestler of Ukrainian descent, who competed in the 48 kg weight class at the 2008 Summer Olympics, she won a bronze medal.-Personal life:...
, Azerbaijan is considered among the elite nations in this sport.
Backgammon
BackgammonBackgammon
Backgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players. The playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board. There are many variants of backgammon, most of which share common traits...
is a game that has ancient roots in the Persian Empire and plays major role in Azerbaijani culture. This game is very popular in Azerbaijan and widely played among local public. There are also different variations of backgammon developed and analysed by Azerbaijani experts.
Chess
Azerbaijan is known as one of the chess superpowers and despite the collapse of Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, chess is still extremely popular. Notable chess players of Azerbaijan includes Teimour Radjabov
Teimour Radjabov
Radjabov's knight sacrifice, 21. ... Ngxe5, was praised by several strong players for its bravery, including English grandmaster Nigel Short. Said Short of the move, "Radjabov plays very imaginatively... he just won't give up, he is extremely tenacious and will always find a way to muddy the...
, Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Vladimir Makogonov
Vladimir Makogonov
Vladimir Andreevich Makogonov was a chess player from Azerbaijan. He was born in Nakhchivan but lived in Baku for most of his life. He became an International Master in 1950 and was awarded an honorary Grandmaster title in 1987. Makogonov never became well known outside the Soviet Union, but was...
, Max Mosnta, Vugar Gashimov
Vugar Gashimov
Vugar Gashimov , born July 24, 1986 in Baku, is one of the leading chess players from Azerbaijan. He is a noted player of Bullet chess and three times Azerbaijani national chess champion .He won at Athens 2005 ....
and Zeinab Mamedyarova
Zeinab Mamedyarova
Zeinab Hamid qizi Mamedyarova is an Azerbaijani Woman Grandmaster chess player.-Career:In 2000, she gained the Woman Grandmaster title...
. Azerbaijan has also hosted many international chess tournaments and competitions and became European Team Chess Championship winners in 2009.
In 2009, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
issued an order to improve development of chess in the Azerbaijan from 2009 to 2014 period.
Football
Rashad sadygov
Rashad Farhad oghlu Sadygov is an Azerbaijani footballer and the national team captain. He plays for the Azerbaijani club side FK Qarabağ.In 2006, as a result of missing the registration deadline for the Azerbaijani football club side PFC Neftchi, Sadygov played basketball for local club BK...
and Vagif Javadov, who played for PFC Neftchi Baku, FK Karabakh
FK Karabakh
FK Qarabağ Ağdam , also known as FK Karabakh Aghdam, is an Azerbaijani football club from Agdam, playing in Azerbaijan Premier League and three times Azerbaijan Cup holders....
, Kayserispor
Kayserispor
Kayserispor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Kayseri. Formed in 1966, Kayserispor are nicknamed Anadolu Yıldızı . The club colours are red and yellow, and the club play their home matches at Kadir Has Stadium.The club have won one Türkiye Kupası, in 2008...
, Kocaelispor
Kocaelispor
Kocaelispor, is the football team of İzmit, Turkey. They were founded in 1966 and played in the Turkish football league between 1980–1988 and 1992–2003. The best result for them was the 4th position in 1992–93 season...
and Azerbaijan national football team
Azerbaijan national football team
The Azerbaijan national football team is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...
. Other famous Azerbaijani players include Zaur Ramazanov
Zaur Ramazanov
Zaur Ramazanov is a Azerbaijani footballer currently playing for Azerbaijan Premier League club FK Karvan on a loan from FK Karabakh as a striker. He was top scorer in Azerbaijan Premier League season 2006/07...
, Kazbek Tuayev, Nazim Suleymanov
Nazim Suleymanov
Nazim Suleymanov is a Soviet and Azerbaijani footballer best known as a striker for Alania Vladikavkaz in the 1990s. He is currently coach of AZAL PFC Baku....
, Vali Gasimov, Gurban Gurbanov
Gurban Gurbanov
Gurban Osman Gurbanov |Zagatala]]) is retired football striker from Azerbaijan.-Playing career:He started his career in Dashgyn, and has since played for Kur-Nur, Mertskhali, PFK Turan Tovuz, PFC Neftchi, Dinamo Stavropol, Baltika Kaliningrad, and Fakel Voronezh. The last club he played for was FC...
, Vidadi Rzayev
Vidadi Rzayev
Vidadi Rzayev is a retired football midfielder from Azerbaijan. On 31 August 1996, Rzayev's goal gave to Azerbaijan the first victory ever in European qualifying tournament, when Azerbaijan defeated Switzerland 1-0 in Baku. He currently works for FC Gabala as a scout.-International goals:-...
, Zaur Tagizade
Zaur Tagizade
Zaur Tagizade is a retired Azerbaijani footballer.Tagizade has made 40 appearances for the Azerbaijan national football team.-External links:* *...
and Mahmud Gurbanov.
The 1960s are considered the Golden Age
Golden Age (metaphor)
A golden age is a period in a field of endeavour when great tasks were accomplished. The term originated from early Greek and Roman poets who used to refer to a time when mankind lived in a better time and was pure .-Golden Age in society:...
for Azerbaijani football, as they produced great players like Anatoliy Banishevskiy
Anatoliy Banishevskiy
Anatoliy Andreyevich Banishevskiy was an Azerbaijani football player of Russian descent. He played for the USSR national football team, winning 51 caps and scoring 19 goals. Banishevskiy played for the Soviet side in the 1966 FIFA World Cup...
, Alakbar Mammadov and football referee Tofik Bakhramov
Tofik Bakhramov
Tofik Bahram oglu Bahramov , commonly known as the Russian linesman in England, was an Azerbaijani football referee notable for being the linesman who helped to award a goal for England in the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final against West Germany...
, who's most famous for being a linesman
Assistant referee (association football)
In association football, an assistant referee is one of several officials who assist the referee in controlling a match. Two officials, traditionally known as linesmen , stand on the touchlines, while a fourth official assists administrative or other match related tasks as directed by the referee...
who helped to award a goal for England in the 1966 World Cup Final between England and West Germany.
The top football teams in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
are FK Baku
FK Baku
Football Club Baku is an Azerbaijani football club in Baku, Azerbaijan. The club sponsored by the Baghlan Group Company and ZQAN Holding.FC Baku plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League and have won two Azerbaijan Premier League championships and two Azerbaijan Cups.-History:FC Baku was founded in...
, PFC Neftchi Baku, FK Karabakh
FK Karabakh
FK Qarabağ Ağdam , also known as FK Karabakh Aghdam, is an Azerbaijani football club from Agdam, playing in Azerbaijan Premier League and three times Azerbaijan Cup holders....
and Khazar Lankaran.
On March 19, 2010, Azerbaijan won the bid to host the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
The 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup women's football tournament is the third such tournament, and will be held in Azerbaijan from 22 September to 13 October, following a decision by the Executive Committee on the 19th March 2010.-Mascot:...
.
Futsal
Azerbaijan achieved far more success in futsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
than football. In the late 1980s, it was here that influenced the creation of the Russian futsal club MFK Dina Moskva
MFK Dina Moskva
MFK Dina Moskva is a futsal club based in Moscow, but playing their home games at town Troitsk, Moscow Oblast.- History :Dina was the most powerful Russian club in the 1990s, they won the Russian title eight times , they won seven times Russian Cup and five times - Supercup...
, who dominated the futsal in post-Soviet countries during 1990's. Azerbaijan national futsal team
Azerbaijan national futsal team
The Azerbaijan national futsal team is the national futsal team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...
and clubs like Araz Naxçivan
Araz Naxçivan
Araz Naxçivan is a futsal club based in Nakhchivan City, Azerbaijan. The club is very dominant in Azeri futsal, winning Premier League six times in a row.-History:...
achieved significant results in Europe, so it is not surprising that the sport enjoys wide popularity in the country.
Martial arts
Martial artsMartial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
like judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
have also brought many medals to this country, namely Elnur Mammadli
Elnur Mammadli
Elnur Chingiz oglu Mammadli is an Azerbaijani judoka.He won the gold medal during the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the -73 kg division. In the final he beat the favorite Wang Ki-Chun from Korea in 13 seconds by ippon.-Achievements:-References:...
who conquered gold at the European Championships and 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in the -73 kg category, and Movlud Miraliyev
Movlud Miraliyev
Movlud Miraliyev is an Azerbaijani judoka.The Azerbaijani finished in joint fifth place in the half-heavyweight division at the 2004 Summer Olympics, having lost the bronze medal match to Michael Jurack of Germany.He won the Bronze Medal match against Przemysław Matyjaszek of Poland at the 2008...
who won the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
and World Judo Championships
2003 World Judo Championships
The 2003 World Judo Championships were the 23rd edition of the World Judo Championships, and were held in Osaka, Japan from 11 September to 14 September 2003.-Men:-Women:- Medals table :-60 kg:14 September - Final-66 kg:13 September - Final...
in 2003.
Rhythmic gymnastics
In recent years, rhythmic gymnasticsRhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time...
developed rapidly in Azerbaijan. Many Azerbaijani rhythmic gymnasts such as Aliya Garayeva
Aliya Garayeva
Aliya Garayeva is an Azerbaijani gymnast. She became a two-time Azerbaijan champion in 2006 for her separate performances...
, Anna Gurbanova
Anna Gurbanova
Anna Gurbanova is an Azerbaijani rhythmic gymnast.She is the champion of Azerbaijan in ball performance, a participant of the Olympic Games held in Athens in 2004, World and European Championships and the world cup final. At the World Championships - 2005 in Baku and the European Championships...
and Dinara Gimatova
Dinara Gimatova
Dinara Gimatova is an Azerbaijani gymnast of Tatar ethnicity, 4 time Azerbaijan champion, participant of World and European championships and many international tournaments...
are among the leading rhythmic gymnasts in the world.
Rugby
Olympic Games
AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
first participated at the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
as an independent nation in 1996, and has sent athletes to compete in every Games since then.
Azerbaijan has participated in the following Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
to date:
- Azerbaijan at the 2008 Summer OlympicsAzerbaijan at the 2008 Summer OlympicsAzerbaijan sent a team to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.-Competitors:-Medallists:- Athletics:Men- Boxing :Men- Equestrian:Jumping- Rhythmic:Women- Judo:Men...
- Azerbaijan at the 2004 Summer OlympicsAzerbaijan at the 2004 Summer OlympicsAzerbaijan competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.-Medalists:-Athletics:MenWomen-Boxing:Azerbaijan sent 9 boxers to the Olympics. They won 2 bronze medals, with 3 other boxers falling in the quarterfinals. The combined record of the Azeri boxers was 15-9, with each boxer winning...
- Azerbaijan at the 2000 Summer OlympicsAzerbaijan at the 2000 Summer OlympicsAzerbaijan competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. They won their first gold medal during these games.- Gold:*Zemfira Meftakhetdinova — Shooting, Women's Skeet* Namik Abdullayev — Wrestling, Men's Freestyle Flyweight...
- Azerbaijan at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAzerbaijan at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAzerbaijan competed in the Summer Olympic Games as an independent nation for the first time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States...
Azerbaijan has participated in the following Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
to date:
- Azerbaijan at the 2006 Winter OlympicsAzerbaijan at the 2006 Winter OlympicsAzerbaijan competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. They were represented by an ice dancing team that included American-born Kristin Fraser.- Figure skating :...
- Azerbaijan at the 2002 Winter OlympicsAzerbaijan at the 2002 Winter OlympicsAzerbaijan competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, United States.- Alpine skiing:Men- Figure skating:MenIce Dancing-References:**...
- Azerbaijan at the 1998 Winter OlympicsAzerbaijan at the 1998 Winter OlympicsAzerbaijan competed in the Winter Olympic Games for the first time at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.- Figure skating:MenWomenPairs-References:**...