Rustam Babayev - 1st Zloty Tur

Talking about the Zloty Tur Cup I have reminded of my first time at the tournament in 2001. It appeared that it was not the first but the second Zloty Tur Cup. As a young contestant from Ukraine I came to Poland for the first time thanks to my trainer - Vlodomir Petrenko. He took us – the four people from Harakov. I was the youngest in the team. Although I was the brown medalist of European Championships I have not started in any of international tournaments yet. Igor Mazurenko – the organizer of the tournament invited me and my friends to the competition. I saw the table with the laser pint indication the center for the first time then.

During the first Zloty Tur Cup in 2001 I fought a lot of great duels. One of the most extraordinary ones was the winning duel with Hrygori Bondaruk. My dominant competitor was Cyetan Gashevski from Bulgaria. I have heard a lot about him. Unfortunately I have never met him in the direct duel at the table. I got the opportunity at Zloty Tur Cup in 2001. Cyetan immediate attack made my hand laying on the side bolster. Of course my defeat with Bulgarian contestant had many reasons: Cyetan was a bit better that time and additionally my hand was exhausted and tired after the duel with Bondurak. I have decided not to give up so easily and win during the next tournaments as well with Cyetan as the whole Zloty Tur Cup.

In 2002 I could not count for the return Wight with Cvetane Gashevski. While he was absent I won my first statue of Zloty Tur in category up to 78kg easily. In 2003 I was the first at the world Professionals Cup and at 4th Zloty Tur Cup. Then I managed to meet Cvetane Gashevski. As I assumed earlier – I beat not only Cvetana but also the whole weight category. My strongest competitor from Bulgaria had to enjoy the second place at that tournament.

In 2004 and 2005 I won my weight category for the next time. This I become the owner of the four statues of Zloty Tur in category up to 78kg. Doubtlessly Zloty Tur Cup is one of the most important events of the year. The tournament which is visited by the greatest international stars. And that is the beauty of the annual prestige armwrestling struggles in Poland.