AZERBAIJAN’S WRESTLING AUTHORITIES AGAINST COMPETING IN WORLD CUP IN ARMENIA

News.Az
Mon 25 January 2010 | 07:33 GMT

Azerbaijan’s Wrestling Federation does not want to compete in the
Greco-Roman Wrestling World Cup which will be held in Yerevan.

The first vice president of Azerbaijan’s Wrestling Federation, Namik
Aliyev, said this was for sporting rather than political reasons.

Talking to journalists before a meeting of Azerbaijan’s Greco-Roman
wrestling team on Saturday, Aliyev said: "Negotiations on the issue
are continuing, but to be honest Azerbaijan’s Wrestling Federation
does not want our sportsmen to compete in this contest. I would like
to say that this is not for political reasons, as many might think.

The main contest in the next few months for us is April’s European
Championship in Baku. The coaching staff has already drawn up a plan
to prepare for the continental championship and neither the World Cup
in Yerevan nor the Women’s World Cup in China, to be held in March,
are included."

The International Wrestling Federation recommends that Azerbaijan
take part in the World Cup in Armenia, Aliyev said.

"Negotiations on the issue are continuing and the final decision will
be taken next week," he said.

"As for Armenia’s participation in the European Championship in Baku,
of course we do not mind," Aliyev continued. "They have already
competed in the World Championship in Baku and if they wish, they
may come again."

The Greco-Roman Wrestling World Cup is to be held in Yerevan on
12-14 February.