Riyadh: ‘Many people at Nuray Abilova’s age cannot compete at a professional level,’ said Turkish weightlifter Gamze Altun to an Apasport.az correspondent dispatched to the VI Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Gamze Altun shared her experiences of competing against 15-year-old Azerbaijani weightlifter Nuray Abilova. Altun expressed her happiness at participating in the Islamic Solidarity Games for the first time, where she secured three gold medals. She praised her Azerbaijani competitor, acknowledging her potential despite her young age, stating that many peers at Abilova’s age cannot compete at such a level. Altun expressed confidence in Abilova’s future success.

The Turkish champion also recounted a memorable experience from a previous competition. She and her teammate had won a medal at the European Championship in Armenia, which they dedicated to Azerbaijan. This gesture was in response to an incident where the Azerbaijani flag was burned, leading to Azerbaijan’s national team withdrawing from the event. Altun mentioned that they were invited to Azerbaijan by President Ilham Aliyev following this act of solidarity.

In the Islamic Solidarity Games, Gamze Altun excelled in the 48 kg weight category, winning three gold medals. Meanwhile, Nuray Abilova concluded the competition with three bronze medals, showcasing her promise on the international stage.