The athletes of the club won a total of 1001 medals in the competitions they participated in throughout the year.
The state support for physical education and sports in our country is increasing day by day. Thanks to the care shown by our government, Azerbaijani sports have reached a high level of development. As a result of the properly state policy implemented under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the President of the National Olympic Committee, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, today Azerbaijan is recognized as a sports country in Europe and the world.
“Neftchi” Sports Club actively participates in the implementation of this state policy and successfully continued its activities in this direction in 2024. Over the past year, the club regularly organized competitions in various sports among oil, gas, and chemical industry workers, and successfully contributed to the training of professional athletes, making valuable contributions to the development of Azerbaijani sports.
2024 was a very successful year for “Neftchi” Sports Club. Throughout the year, more than 2000 cadet and junior athletes, as well as hundreds of oil industry workers, engaged in sports in the 26 sports sections of the club’s facilities.
In 2024, one of the main directions of “Neftchi” Sports Club’s activities was to provide free physical education and sports services to employees of enterprises within SOCAR’s structure in the oil, gas, and chemical industries and their family members. The club organized mass physical education and sports events in various disciplines, in which hundreds of oil workers participated. Based on the results of these competitions, the national teams of SOCAR in various sports were formed. These teams successfully competed in various tournaments among state institutions throughout the year, achieving high results. SOCAR employees won 58 medals (14 gold, 18 silver, and 26 bronze) in 21 competitions across 12 sports in 2024. It is gratifying that SOCAR, whose employees confidently participated in all tournaments organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports throughout the year, secured second place among state institutions at the end of the year.
In 2024, many significant achievements were also made in the training of professional athletes. “Neftchi” Sports Club organized open championships in various sports, attracting hundreds of athletes.
Throughout the year, representatives of the club achieved high results in European and world championships among cadets, juniors, and seniors, as well as in other prestigious international tournaments, national and capital-level competitions, and open championships of other sports clubs and centers. In total, the club’s athletes won 1001 medals, including 337 gold, 303 silver, and 361 bronze medals.
The club’s athletes also competed in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, world and European championships with confidence, achieving historic victories. At the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games held in Paris, France, in 2024, “Neftchi” Sports Club’s judoka, Hidayat Heydarov, showed great determination and became an Olympic champion. By winning European, world, and Olympic championships in the same year, Hidayat Heydarov made history in Azerbaijani sports. Additionally, Greco-Roman wrestler Hasrat Jafarov won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.
At the XVII Summer Paralympic Games in Paris, our club’s athletes won a total of 11 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze).
The following athletes achieved remarkable success: Imamedin Khalilov, Said Najafzadeh, Orkhan Aslanov won gold medals and Lamiya Valiyeva won 1 gold, 1 silver medals; Raman Salei won 1 silver, 2 bronze medals; Sabir Zeynalov, Vali Israfilov, and Ilham Zakiev won bronze medals.
Another proud moment was that “Neftchi” Sports Club’s representative, Paralympic champion Imamedin Khalilov, was named the “Best Male Para Taekwondo Athlete of 2024” by the World Taekwondo Federation.
“Neftchi” Sports Club’s Greco-Roman wrestlers achieved historic success at the World Championships in Tirana, Albania. Wrestlers Eldaniz Azizli, Nihat Mammadli, and Ulvi Ganizade confidently competed and became world champions. Eldaniz Azizli made history as Azerbaijan’s first four-time world champion in wrestling.
In 2024, “Neftchi” Sports Club not only excelled in individual sports but also achieved remarkable success in team sports. The club’s men’s basketball team won the national cup, while the women’s basketball team became the champion of the Azerbaijan Women’s League. The futsal team, competing in the Top League, finished the 2023-2024 season with a bronze medal. Additionally, the “Garadagh Lokbatan” football team secured the silver medal in the First League.
It should also be noted that at the “Annual Sports Awards” ceremony organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, winners were honored in various nominations.
“Neftchi” Sports Club took second place in the “Best Sports Club” nomination.
The 3×3 women’s basketball team took second place in the “Best Women’s Club Team” nomination.Judoka and Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov won the “Best Male Athlete” nomination.
Paralympic athlete Lamiya Valiyeva (para-athletics) was named the “Best Female Paralympic Athlete.”Dursadaf Karimova (para-judo) placed second, and Konul Suleymanova (para-swimming) placed third.
In the “Best Male Paralympic Athlete” nomination, all top three places were taken by “Neftchi” Sports Club’s athletes:
First place: Imamedin Khalilov (para-taekwondo).
Second place: Said Najafzadeh (para-athletics).
Third place: Ilham Zakiev (para-judo).