Azerbaijan Names 22 Athletes for London

Azerbaijan's delegation enters the stadium at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony. © • NPC Azerbaijan

The squad includes Beijing 2008 men’s Shot Put F55/56 gold medallist Olokhan Musayev, as well as two-time reigning Paralympic judoka champion in the +100kg category, Ilham Zakiyev.

Azerbaijan’s National Paralympic Committee announced the 22 athletes that will represent the nation at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which is largely made up of eight in the sport of Athletics and seven in Judo.

The squad includes Beijing 2008 men’s Shot Put F55/56 gold medallist Olokhan Musayev, as well as two-time reigning Paralympic judoka champion in the +100kg category, Ilham Zakiyev.

As one of the top Paralympic Judo nations, Karim Sardarov, Tofig Mammadov, Rovshan Safarov, Bayram Mustafayev, Ramin Ibrahimov and Afag Sultanova will join Zakiyev on the mat.

Oleg Panyutin, gold medallist in the Long Jump F12 at the Athens 2004, is also a member of the country’s delegation.

Powerlifters Maharram Aliyev and Elshan Huseynov, archer Zinya Valiyeva, swimmer Natali Pronina and shooters Yelena Taranova and Akbar Muradov will represent the delegation as well.

Azerbaijan’s largest Paralympic medal haul came at the Beijing 2008 Games, when they won two golds, three silvers and five bronze, doubling their total medal count from the Athens 2004 Games.