From September 28 to October 8, Azerbaijan will host the 3rd CIS Games — an international multi-sport event that will bring together the strongest young athletes of the region.
One of the most anticipated disciplines will be sambo. Eight Azerbaijani athletes born between 2007 and 2009 will take to the mat, setting themselves the most ambitious goals.
Head coach of Azerbaijan’s junior national sambo team, Yagub Abdullayev, spoke about the team’s preparations:
“In August, we are holding a training camp at the Absheron Olympic Sports Complex. The main focus will be on improving physical condition. In September, we’ll begin the second stage of preparation, concentrating on technical and tactical training. We’ll spend more time on the mat, refining key elements.”
According to the coach, the team lineup has already been finalized and preparations are going according to plan:
“The training conditions are excellent. These include the strongest sambo schools — Russia, Belarus, and Central Asian nations. Their teams include European and world champions and medalists. But our squad is no less competitive: we have athletes who’ve already earned medals on the international stage. We’re aiming for the highest results.”
The Azerbaijani sambo team already has a history of success at the CIS Games. At the inaugural event in Kazan in 2021, the team claimed three gold, one silver, and one bronze medal — making them one of the most successful delegations in the competition.
“Our sambo athletes delivered the best results among all sports at that time. Now, with the Games taking place at home, we aim to at least repeat that success. Our goal is clear — to win as many medals as possible,” he said.
