International referees with the highest category (I-S) were invited to the Azerbaijan Wrestling Championship, held from January 7 to 11.

According to Offsideplus.az, these international officials shared their impressions of the tournament's organization and the standard of wrestling in Azerbaijan:

Igor Ligay (Kazakhstan): "This is my second time officiating at the Azerbaijan Championship, and I noticed a significant improvement in organization. Holding fan competitions in the arena was a great step for promoting the sport. Both the officiating standards and the technical skills of the athletes have shown impressive growth."

Yerik Jumabekov (Kazakhstan): "Everything was magnificent. We were deeply impressed by Azerbaijan’s hospitality and cuisine. Regarding the level of competition, the wrestlers competing in Olympic weight classes here are strong enough to make their mark at the World Championships."

Nima Sadeqi (Iran): "Azerbaijan is a powerhouse in the world of wrestling, known for its world and Olympic champions. It was a thrill to work at such a high-level tournament. Baku is a beautiful city, and your people are incredibly kind."

Marius Kimpoeru (Romania): "I last visited Baku in 2009. I have observed massive positive changes over the years. This tournament was filled with exciting and highly competitive matches featuring very strong athletes."

Roman Pavlov (Ukraine): "The synergy between young and experienced referees at this event was very successful. The organization fully met world standards. Working in a packed arena and seeing the fans' passion provides a referee with extra adrenaline and satisfaction."

The international referees expressed their gratitude to the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation for the invitation and emphasized their confidence in the continued development of wrestling in the country.