Former soldier and reigning European judoka champion Ilham Zakiyev has revealed that he has completed both of his primary missions after winning gold in Baku.
The Azerbaijani, 35, beat Oleksandr Pominov of Ukraine in the final of the +90kg visually impaired category in front of his home fans at the Heydar Aliyev Arena this evening.
With it being Armed Forces Day in Azerbaijan, the win takes on extra significance for Zakiyev, who was left completely blind at the age of 18 in 1999 after taking a bullet to the temple by an Armenian sniper.
Consequently, Zakiyev, who was the final torchbearer in the opening ceremony, says that he has now completed both of his objectives.
"I had two missions in these European Games - one of them was to light the flame in the Olympic Stadium and to win here," he told reporters.
"I had promised to Atashgah [fire temple in the suburbs of greater Baku] when Mr President ignited the flame, that I will get a medal on the Day of Armed Forces."
Zakiyev is also a two-time Paralympic champion.
Shane Callaghan
