Rustam Orujov Can Eat Birthday Cake Again

The World Championships in Baku were not a success for Rustam Orujov. The runner-up of the 2017 World Championships won two contest in Baku, but after the third his event was over. Rio’s U73kg silver medallist celebrates his 27th birthday at 4 October he had with mixed feelings.

Rustam Orujov: “I am trying to forget about it and moving forward because life goes on. It is necessary to prepare and prove everyone what you can do, and what you will do. And with God will, I will become world champion some day. I will fight again for the World Championships and I keep believing in myself. I will prepare, I will try, I will fight to fight to the end. And with the Lord's will, everything will be good.”

It wasn't Orujov but Hidayet Heydarov that won a medal in Baku, displaying at times heroic judo. In front of the Azeri President it was Heydarov who stole the hearts of the crowd, caping the host nation's first medal of the event. Only one athlete can qualify for the Olympic Games in U73kg. Orujov and Heydarov have known each-other for a long time, but instead of viewing each-other as rivals, they choose to behave as brothers. Together they have grown and reached the top of the world.

It is now, in 2018, time for the reconsideration of tactics, and Orujov has arrived at a surprising but perhaps wise decision: “It was difficult to keep this weight - I have decided to change my weight category, and I will try the U81 category. I can finally eat birthday cake again.”