International Judo Federation highlights the historic success of Ilham Zakiyev
The International Judo Federation (IJF), in an article on the results of the European Para Judo Championships in the German city of Heidelberg, gave special place to the historic success of Azerbaijani para judoka Ilham Zakiyev.
This was reported by the National Paralympic Committee.
The article notes that one of the most memorable and notable moments of the second day of the championships was that Ilham Zakiyev once again climbed to the top step of the podium at a major international tournament.
The legend of Azerbaijani para judo won the European champion title in the J1 category in the over-95-kilogram weight class. Having won the final bout against Rodrigo Suarez Garrosa, representing Spain, Ilham Zakiyev secured yet another continental championship.
The International Judo Federation also particularly emphasized Ilham Zakiyev's many years of successful career. It was noted that Zakiyev first became a Paralympic Games champion in Athens in 2004 and defended his title four years later in Beijing. Subsequently, the para judoka won three bronze medals at the Paralympic Games in London, Tokyo, and Paris, and he is a three-time world champion.
The article brought to attention that Ilham Zakiyev has been competing among the world's strongest para judokas for more than 20 years. It was especially emphasized that 22 years after his first Paralympic championship, he is still fighting, winning, and becoming a European champion.
The organization regarded Zakiyev's victory as one of the main symbolic moments of the championships in Heidelberg. The article noted that the competition brought together several generations of para judokas: experienced athletes with careers of more than 20 years, para judokas who have already become the strongest champions of their era, and young athletes aspiring to become the main rivals in the upcoming Paralympic cycle.
It should be noted that Ilham Zakiyev, having achieved yet another historic success at the 2026 European Para Judo Championships, won the title of the continent's best para judoka for the 10th time.
