A tragic incident has shaken the Sumgayit Sports School in Azerbaijan where a 7-year-old student lost his life due to the abusive behavior of his coach, Mehman Khalilov.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for stricter measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
CCTV footage of the incident has been widely circulated on social media, and it shows the coach kicking and pulling the child by his hair, as well as mistreating other students. Mehman Khalilov, who is a second European Games bronze medalist in judo and sambo, can be seen using rough and questionable techniques with the young students.
As a result of the coach’s eyebrow raising behavior, 7-year-old Farid Bakarov suffered a broken neck and died in the hospital. The tragedy has caused anger among the society, as parents and sports enthusiasts demand justice for the young kid and stricter regulations for sports training.
This news comes on the wings of a somewhat similar incident in BJJ. A white belt student in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was awarded $46M in damages after suffering a fractured neck and spinal cord damage which left him paralyzed from the neck down.
The injury occurred during a “sparring” session with a more experienced opponent, referred to as “spiking” by Rener Gracie, an expert witness on behalf of the plaintiff. Gracie emphasized the importance of proper training and instruction in BJJ, particularly for beginners, to prevent accidents and injuries.
Of course the sambo incident is more upsetting because it involves a child. This is sadly also not unheard of – there was an incident in Taiwan a while back. In that case, coach was sentenced to 9 years in prison for his behavior.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of child safety and the need for coaches to prioritize the well-being of their students. Parents and guardians should be diligent in selecting coaches and trainers who adhere to proper training methods and prioritize the safety of young athletes.
To prevent similar incidents in the future, there must be stricter regulations in place for sports coaching. The sports community must come together to ensure that all coaches and trainers are properly trained and licensed, and that there are consequences for those who engage in this kind of behavior.
Since 2014, Benny A. King has been fully immersed in the world of combat sports. Starting with a blog about Greco Roman wrestling, Benny’s passion for combat sports has led him to explore various disciplines.