Azerbaijani Wrestling Federation (AWF) has released a special video dedicated to Jala Aliyeva, a leading member of the national women's wrestling team, in honor of International Women's Day on March 8.

As reported by Offsideplus.az, the 25-year-old U23 World and European champion shared the story of her athletic journey, the challenges she has faced, and her future aspirations.

Jala, who began her wrestling career in Ganja in 2009, revealed that her mother was initially against her participating in the sport. It was only after Jala requested it as a birthday gift that she finally received her mother's blessing. She admitted that being the only girl in the training gym initially made her nervous, but her burning desire to become a champion helped her overcome those obstacles.

Reflecting on the difficult periods in her career, the wrestler confessed that after winning a silver medal at the 2016 European Championships, she went through a long slump and even considered quitting the sport. However, thanks to the support of her coach, Hasrat Mammadyarov, she was able to make a strong comeback to high-level competition.

The 2022 U23 European title served as a new source of motivation for Jala. In 2024, she reached new heights by becoming a U23 World Champion and securing a gold medal at the European Championships held in Baku. The athlete highlighted that having her mother in the stands in Baku gave her immense strength.

Not satisfied with her current achievements, Aliyeva’s ultimate goals are to become a senior World, European, and Olympic champion. She aims to be a role model for young girls and leave an indelible mark on the history of Azerbaijani women's wrestling:

"When I step onto the mat, I fight not just for myself, but for my people and my homeland. Every woman must be able to stand on her own two feet and build her own future."