Ilham Azizaga oglu Zakiyev (Azerbaijani: İlham Zəkiyev, born 3 March 1980, Sumgayit) is an Azerbaijani blind judoka.
Career
[edit]He began studying judo when he was 11 years of age. In 1998, when he was 18, he went to serve in Azerbaijani army in the Aşağı Əbdürrəhmanlı village of Fizuli Rayon. He served on the frontline of the conflict zone. On 4 February 1999, he was wounded by a bullet to the head by an Armenian sniper, while on a combat mission. The bullet passed through the entire head, entering from the left and exiting via the right temple. As a result, Zakiyev has completely lost his eyesight. After a long rehabilitation he returned to the sport but as a paralympian. He is the holder of a 7-dan black belt.[2]
He won a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Paralympics[3] and the 2008 Beijing Paralympics in the +100 kg division.[4] Zakiyev has been European champion eight times, and has twice been the World champion.[5]
Personal life
[edit]In 2008, Zakiyev received the Shohrat Order for his services in the development of Azerbaijani sport.[6]
He is an avid supporter of Neftchi Baku.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "IJF Dan Grades Awardees" (PDF). International Judo Federation. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ "2018 World Judo Championships: Two new champions crowned on a day of redemption in Baku". Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Results, 2004". Official Website of the Paralympic Movement. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Results, 2008". Official Website of the Paralympic Movement. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ Goda, Nicholas. "Azerbaijan judokas target further success in Rio". www.paralympic.org. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "Azerbaijani President confers order on Ilham Zakiyev". en.trend.az. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "Cüdo üzrə ikiqat paralimpiya çempionu İlham Zəkiyev də "Neftçi"yə dəstək oldu". www.olimpiya.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
External links
[edit] Media related to Ilham Zakiyev at Wikimedia Commons
- Ilham Zakiyev at the International Judo Federation
- Ilham Zakiyev at the International Judo Federation
- Ilham Zakiyev at JudoInside.com
- Ilham Zakiyev at AllJudo.net (in French)
- Ilham Zakiyev at Paralympic.org
- Ilham Zakiyev at The-Sports.org
- Ilham Zakiyev on X
- Nicolas Messner. Ilham Zakiyev: An Exemplary Colossus // IJF, 13. Aug 2018.