Yaylagul Ramazanova

Lore & Background

Yaylagul Ramazanova graduated from the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, specializing in book illustration. She began competing internationally in the mid-2010s, appearing at the European Games in Baku in June 2015, where she lost to Georgian archer Khatuna Narimanidze with a score of 4:6. In June 2018 she won the Azerbaijani Championship in Baku. At the 2022 European Archery Championships in Munich, Germany, she secured a quota for the 2023 European Games in Kraków, Poland. Since October 2022, her national team coach has been Natig Fazilov, who holds the honorary titles of Honored Coach and Master of Sports of Azerbaijan.

At the 2023 European Games, Ramazanova served as flagbearer for Azerbaijan at the opening ceremony alongside fencer Barat Guliyev. In competition, she was defeated in the 1/32 round by Lithuanian archer Paulina Ramanauskaite with a narrow score of 5:6 (regular time ended 5:5). In June 2024, at the final qualification stage in Antalya, Turkey, she defeated Polish athlete Klaudia Plaza to secure a quota for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Ramazanova was the first Azerbaijani athlete to start her Olympic competition on 25 July, a day before the opening ceremony. Ranked 61st globally among tournament participants, she scored 647 points in the qualification round, finishing 39th—her best performance of the season. On 30 July, in the 1/32 finals, while seven months pregnant, she won a tiebreak against the 26th-ranked Chinese athlete An Qixuan with a score of 6:5. She then competed in the 1/16 finals against Michelle Kroppen of Germany, losing 2:6. Due to her pregnancy, spectators offered special support during her matches. At the Azerbaijan Archery Championship held in Baku on 5–7 February 2025, she won the gold medal and earned the title of Azerbaijan champion.

Reader's Guide

Yaylagul Ramazanova's significance lies in her pioneering role for Azerbaijani archery. She became the first non-naturalized athlete from Azerbaijan to secure an Olympic quota in the sport, a milestone that opened the door for homegrown talent to compete at the highest level. Her performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics, where she competed while seven months pregnant, drew attention for its demonstration of physical and mental endurance. She ranked 39th in the qualification round with 647 points, her best seasonal result, and defeated a higher-ranked opponent in the 1/32 finals before falling to a German contender. Her national record for the 70-meter distance and multiple Azerbaijani championship titles underscore her sustained excellence domestically. The honorary title of Master of Sports of Azerbaijan further reflects her standing within the country's athletic community. Her participation in the European Games, European Championships, and World Archery Championships over nearly a decade illustrates her consistent presence on the international stage. By carrying the Azerbaijani flag at the 2023 European Games opening ceremony, she was recognized as a representative figure for her nation's delegation. Her legacy includes not only competitive achievements but also the precedent she set for future Azerbaijani archers aiming for Olympic qualification through their own merit.

Did You Know?

• She was the flagbearer for Azerbaijan at the 2023 European Games opening ceremony alongside fencer Barat Guliyev.
• At the 2024 Summer Olympics, she competed while seven months pregnant and won a tiebreak against Chinese archer An Qixuan.
• She holds the Azerbaijani national record for the 70-meter archery distance.