Today is the birthday of two-time Paralympic champion Ilkham Zakiyev

Today marks the birthday of Azerbaijani Paralympic judoka, two-time World and Paralympic Games champion, eight-time European champion and 2015 European Games champion, Honored Master of Sports of Azerbaijan in judo, and Karabakh War veteran Ilham Zakiyev.

The Honored Master of Sports was born on March 3, 1980, in Sumgayit. He received his secondary education at school No. 5. His older brother Fikret was involved in wrestling, and thanks to him, Ilham also became interested in sports.

Since the age of 15, Ilham has been practicing judo, training at the Sumgayit stadium named after Mehti Huseyn-zade under the guidance of Honored Coach of the Republic Ahmeddin Rajabli. Very quickly, Ilham began to achieve success, becoming the champion of Sumgayit, a medalist at the youth championship of the Republic of Azerbaijan in judo, and the champion of the national junior sambo championship.

In 1998, Ilham, already a heavyweight judoka, was supposed to go to Moscow for the World Youth Games, but he was not taken to the competition, and he joined the army. He served in the Fizuli district, in the zone of contact between Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces.

In February 1999, while carrying out a combat mission in the village of Ashaghi Abdurrahmanli, I. Zakiyev was severely wounded in the head. An Armenian sniper's bullet entered through his left temple and exited through the right. For five days, Ilham was in a coma. There was no hope that he would survive, but on the fifth day he woke up in the district hospital, hearing the voice of his mother calling him. However, upon opening his eyes, he could see nothing. It turned out that Zakiyev had gone blind.

In November 2002, after a four-year hiatus, Ilham Zakiyev resumed training under his former coach A. Rajabli. He needed to participate in the II World Games for blind and visually impaired athletes, which were to be held in 2003 in Quebec, Canada. Moreover, these competitions offered an opportunity to earn a spot at the 2004 Paralympics. These Games became Ilham's first competition after losing his sight. He won a bronze medal, losing only in the semifinals to Rafael Torres Pompa from Cuba, and earned the right to participate in the Paralympics in Athens.

Ilham Zakiyev was the only judoka representing Azerbaijan at these competitions. His first bout was against the athlete from Cuba, to whom Zakiyev had lost in Quebec. However, in Greece, Ilham won in just 1 minute and 40 seconds. He became the Paralympic Games champion.

A year later, Ilham became the European champion, defeating a judoka from France in the final. In 2007, at the qualifying European Championship held in Baku, Zakiyev became a two-time continental champion. That same year, he became the winner of the World Games held in Brazil. In 2008, in Beijing, I. Zakiyev participated in his second Paralympics, where he won a gold medal. Thus, Ilham Zakiyev became a two-time Paralympic champion.

According to the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated February 5, 2008, Ilham Zakiyev was awarded the Olympic scholarship specially established in 2002. On December 25 of the same year, the judoka was awarded the "Shohrat" order by presidential decree for outstanding contributions to the development of Azerbaijani sports.

In January 2010, Zakiyev became the winner of the German Open Championship held in Heidelberg. That same year, in Antalya, Turkey, Ilham Zakiyev became the world champion. In November 2011, Zakiyev became the European champion.

On June 12, 2015, at the opening ceremony of the I European Games in Baku, Ilham Zakiyev, accompanied by Youth Olympic Games winner taekwondo athlete Said Guliyev, carried the Games torch into the Olympic Stadium.

On June 26, 2015, Zakiyev, despite minor injuries, participated in judo competitions within the framework of the European Games. He won and brought Azerbaijan its 18th gold medal at the European Games. Ilham Zakiyev dedicated this medal to President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani people. During the award ceremony, Zakiyev said to the head of state: "Mr. President, soldier Zakiyev has completed your assignment. I gave you my word to win this medal and, having fulfilled my promise on the Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, I present it to you."

In 2016, Ilham Zakiyev graduated from the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports.

In September of the same year, I. Zakiyev was awarded the "Honorary Diploma of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan" by order of the head of state. On March 3, 2017, Ilham Zakiyev was elected Vice President of the National Paralympic Committee of Azerbaijan. In May 2017, he participated in the IV Islamic Solidarity Games held in Baku.

On February 15, 2021, in connection with the 25th anniversary of the National Paralympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I. Zakiyev was awarded the order "For Service to the Fatherland" III degree for his contributions to the development of Azerbaijani sports.

By order of the head of state dated September 6, 2021, Ilham Zakiyev was awarded the order "For Service to the Fatherland" I degree for outstanding achievements at the XVI Summer Paralympic Games in Tokyo and contributions to the development of Azerbaijani sports.