Ulvi Huseynov: How Loss Turned an Azerbaijan Badminton Team Into Family
Ulvi Huseynov鈥檚 Badminton Journey: How Loss Turned a Team Into Family
For Ulvi Huseynov, badminton became much more than a sport after one of the most painful moments of his life. A year ago, the young Azerbaijan badminton player was preparing to compete in a regional championship final when he suddenly felt unusual heaviness in his right shoulder while picking up his racket bag. He went on to play the match, but the result mattered little compared with the news waiting for him afterwards.
A Final That Changed Everything
Huseynov lost the final and remembers the silence that followed on the team bus. The team management asked him to return home immediately, without explaining why he should miss the prize ceremony. When he finally arrived home, he discovered the heartbreaking reason behind their decision: his father had passed away.
The timing made the situation even more difficult. Just four days later, the Azerbaijan team was scheduled to travel to Guwahati for the BWF World Junior Championships. It was supposed to be only the country鈥檚 second appearance at the World Juniors after making its debut in 2024.
Azerbaijan Team Chooses Friendship Over Competition
The young players had prepared seriously for the World Junior Championships, but the tragedy changed their priorities. Coach Morteza Validarvi recalled that the team members told him they would not travel to India if Huseynov could not join them. For them, leaving their teammate alone during such a difficult period was impossible.
One of the strongest examples of that bond came from Leyla Jamalzade, Huseynov鈥檚 mixed doubles teammate. She carried his rackets to the podium and accepted his medal in his absence. For Huseynov, that simple but emotional gesture became something he would never forget.
A Team That Became a Family
Huseynov later admitted that seeing photographs and videos of Jamalzade carrying his rackets brought him to tears. The support did not end with that moment. His teammates returned home, stayed close to him and continued encouraging him to keep playing badminton.
The tragedy changed Huseynov as both a person and a badminton player. He says he became more serious about the sport and more aware of his responsibilities towards his family and teammates. There was even a time when he considered walking away from badminton altogether.
His Family and Coach Helped Him Continue
Huseynov鈥檚 family played an important role in helping him continue his badminton journey. His elder brother, who had also played the sport, encouraged him not to quit and reminded him that their father would want to see him continue.
Coach Morteza Validarvi also became an important figure in Huseynov鈥檚 life. Instead of being only a coach, he gradually became something closer to a father figure. Federation officials, including president Taleh Ziyadov, also visited Huseynov鈥檚 home and encouraged him to remain involved in badminton.
From Grief to New Success
The young Azerbaijan player has slowly turned his pain into motivation. At this year鈥檚 Azerbaijan Junior Open, Huseynov reached two finals, winning the men鈥檚 doubles title and taking silver in men鈥檚 singles.
Those results showed how far he had come since the darkest period of his life. His return to the World Junior Championships a year after his team skipped the previous edition made the occasion even more meaningful.
Returning to the World Juniors
Standing at the World Juniors again, Huseynov could not forget what had happened a year earlier. Time had passed, but the memories remained powerful. The support shown by his teammates had become one of the most important parts of his story.
His mother also reminded him of the responsibility he carried. Before the tournament, she told him to make his father proud. For Huseynov, those words were more than encouragement. They became a personal promise to continue working hard and honour his father through his badminton journey.
Badminton Became More Than a Sport
Huseynov鈥檚 story highlights a side of junior badminton that results and rankings cannot always capture. For him and his teammates, badminton created friendships, memories and a support system that extended far beyond the court.
Azerbaijan may have more popular sporting traditions in disciplines such as wrestling and judo, but Huseynov believes badminton has given him something equally valuable. Through the sport, he found people who stood beside him when he needed them most.
A Story of Loss, Strength and Family
Huseynov once thought he had lost something that could never be replaced. Yet, through his teammates, coaches, family and the wider Azerbaijan badminton community, he discovered another kind of strength.
His journey from personal tragedy to the World Junior Championships is therefore not simply a story about returning to competition. It is a story about friendship, resilience and finding family through sport. For Ulvi Huseynov, badminton became a reminder that even after a devastating loss, something meaningful can still be gained.
