Emotional Hidayat Heydarov realises the value of his historical world title

The atmosphere in the Mubadala Arena was electric as Hidayat Heydarov of Azerbaijan clinched the gold medal in the U73kg category at the Abu Dhabi World Championships 2024. The 26-year-old, world number one, was in exceptional form, having won gold in his last three Grand Slams and recently securing his fourth European championship title. With three world bronze medals to his name, Heydarov was poised for his first world final and delivered spectacularly, earning Azerbaijan its second world title in history, 11 years after Elkhan Mammadov's victory in the U100kg category.

The tension peaked as Heydarov faced Tatsuki Ishihara in a gripping final. Both judokas launched several powerful attacks in the opening minutes, but it wasn't until the last minute that the deadlock broke. With just 40 seconds left, Ishihara executed a ko-soto-gake, scoring a waza-ari and seeming to secure the win. However, Heydarov didn't relent, and with mere seconds remaining, he executed his signature kata-guruma, initially scoring a waza-ari. After a video review, the score was upgraded to ippon, sealing Heydarov's victory. The crowd erupted in cheers as Heydarov, overcome with emotion, collapsed to his knees, having realized his long-held dream.

Journey to the Final

Heydarov's path to the final was fraught with challenges. As the top seed in Pool A, he faced 8-time World Judo Tour medallist Akil Gjakova (KOS) in the second round, whom he defeated with two quick kata-guruma throws, scoring waza-ari-awasete-ippon. In round 3, he tactically outmaneuvered 3-time Grand Slam bronze medallist Salvador Cases Roca (ESP), demonstrating his defensive prowess.

The quarter-final pitted him against the number eight seed and 2022 world bronze medallist Daniel Cargnin (BRA). Heydarov’s kata-guruma again proved decisive as Cargnin's attempt to avoid the score resulted in his disqualification. Heydarov's plan was unfolding perfectly, setting him up for the semi-final against another formidable opponent.

Repechage and Bronze Medal Matches

In the repechage, Daniel Cargnin redeemed himself with a spectacular ura-nage against Batzaya, while Nils Stump defeated Makhmadbekov with his trademark sasae-tsurikomi-ashi. Cargnin's win led to a bronze medal contest with Lavjargal. Despite a strong start, Cargnin tired in the latter stages, accumulating three penalties and conceding the match to Lavjargal. This surprise bronze for Lavjargal, however, came too late for him to secure an Olympic spot for Mongolia.

The second bronze medal contest saw Nils Stump face Igor Wandtke. Stump, demonstrating his skill and strength, scored two waza-aris in the third minute with ko-soto-gake and sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi, securing his second world medal and reinforcing his status as a favorite for the Paris Olympics.

A Historic Win for Azerbaijan

Heydarov's victory marks a historic moment for Azerbaijani judo, echoing Elkhan Mammadov's world title win in 2013. The Azeri national team coach, Richard Trautmann, expressed his pride, stating, "His dream came true today. It was all of our dreams really, but he deserved it today."

Heydarov’s gold medal not only highlights his personal triumph but also signifies a bright future for Azerbaijani judo, inspiring the next generation of judokas. The 2024 Abu Dhabi World Championships will be remembered for Heydarov's resilience, skill, and historic victory.