Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.28 / Trend, M.Aliyev /
Azerbaijani athletes' success at the Olympic Games in Singapore is a big step in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and as a confirmation of the fact that Azerbaijan children's and youth sports develops in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov told journalists.
The winners and participants of the Youth Olympics Games in Singapore have been welcomed in Baku today.
The Azerbaijani athletes won five gold and three silver medals in this Olympics.
"I am proud of raising the flag of Azerbaijan at the Olympics," Olympic Champion in Weightlifting Nijat Rahimov told journalists on arrival at the International Airport named after Heydar Aliyev.
Rahimov said the most difficult moment at the Olympics was the last attempt to raise the rod, with which he managed successfully. Rahimov lifted 295 kg in total and won the gold.
"We had intensified training before the Olympics and so were expecting the victory," Olympic champion in wrestling Murad Bazarov said.
Nijat Rahimov , Murad Bazarov, Elman Mukhtarov, Ali Mohammadabirov (100 kg) and Patimat Bagomedova (52 kg) won the gold medals at the Olympics.
Wrestler Kenan Guliyev (54 kg) and boxers Elvin Isayev (57 kg) and Salman Alizade (48 kg) won the silver medals.
Azerbaijan, with eight awards, took the 11th place in the team event among 204 countries.
The first Summer Youth Olympic Games were held in Singapore Aug.14-26, 2010, where more than 3,500 athletes competed in 29 sports.