1. Sports in Azerbaijan… By Samira Safarova

2. WRESTLING…  Wrestling remains a historically important sport of Azerbaijan and often even referred to as its national sport. Wrestlingnational sport  Both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, particularly freestyle, are popular in Azerbaijan.freestyleGreco-Roman wrestling  With a history of great wrestlers, such as Namig Abdullayev, Farid Mansurov, Rovshan Bayramov, and Mariya Stadnik, Azerbaijan is considered among the elite nations in this sport.Namig AbdullayevFarid MansurovRovshan BayramovMariya Stadnik

3. Wrestling…

4. BACKGAMMON…  Backgammon is a game that has ancient roots in the Persian Empire and plays major role in Azerbaijani culture. This game is very popular in Azerbaijan and widely played among the local public. There are also different variations of backgammon developed and analysed by Azerbaijani experts. BackgammonPersian Empire

5. Backgammon…

6. CHESS…  Azerbaijan is known as one of the chess superpowers and despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, chess is still extremely popular. Notable chess players of Azerbaijan includes Teimour Radjabov, Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Max Mosnta, Drew Irion, Vugar Gashimov and Zeinab Mamedyarova. Azerbaijan has also hosted many international chess tournaments and competitions and became European Team Chess Championship winners in 2009.chessSoviet UnionTeimour RadjabovShahriyar MammadyarovVugar GashimovZeinab MamedyarovaEuropean Team Chess Championship  In 2009, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev issued an order to improve development of chess in the Azerbaijan from 2009 to 2014 period.Ilham Aliyev

7. Chess…

8. FOOTBALL…  Football is the most popular sport in Azerbaijan. The most internationally known players are Rashad Sadygov and Vagif Javadov, who played for PFC Neftchi Baku, FK Karabakh, Kayserispor, Kocaelispor and Azerbaijan national football team. Other famous Azerbaijani players include Zaur Ramazanov, Kazbek Tuayev, Nazim Suleymanov, Vali Gasimov, Gurban Gurbanov, Vidadi Rzayev,Zaur Tagizade and Mahmud Gurbanov. FootballRashad SadygovVagif JavadovPFC Neftchi BakuFK KarabakhKayserisporKocaelisporAzerbaijan national football teamZaur RamazanovKazbek TuayevNazim SuleymanovVali GasimovGurban GurbanovVidadi RzayevZaur TagizadeMahmud Gurbanov  The 1960s are considered the Golden Age for Azerbaijani football, as they produced great players like Anatoliy Banishevskiy, Alakbar Mammadovand football referee Tofik Bakhramov, who's most famous for being a linesman who helped to award a goal for England in the 1966 World Cup Finalbetween England and West Germany.Golden AgeAnatoliy BanishevskiyAlakbar MammadovTofik Bakhramovlinesman1966 World Cup FinalEnglandWest Germany  The top football teams in Azerbaijan are FK Baku, PFC Neftchi Baku, FK Karabakh and Khazar Lankaran.AzerbaijanFK BakuPFC Neftchi BakuFK KarabakhKhazar Lankaran  On March 19, 2010, Azerbaijan won the bid to host the 2012 FIFA U- 17 Women's World Cup.2012 FIFA U- 17 Women's World Cup

9. Football…