Perhaps it is difficult to find a more legendary figure in the history of domestic sports than Marat Niyazov. Over half a century ago, he was the first Turkmen athlete to pave the path to the most coveted pedestal for every athlete in the world, winning a silver medal in the shooting competition at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
In life, nothing happens for no reason, by itself. Every chance is the result of a whole series of patterns. The fact that back in 1953 a student of the Gubkin Moscow Institute of Oil and Gas chose shooting sport was determined by the character of Marat Atayevich, namely, the ability to set a goal and strive for it. About another person who has not been able to realize himself in his contemporary life, they say pitifully that he was born at the wrong time. Now, if he had lived a hundred or two hundred years ago, then he would have shown all his abilities. But times do not choose, in every era you can find a use for yourself. The term allotted to him by fate, Marat Niyazov fully realized himself. For a decade and a half of his sports career, he has reached such heights that not every athlete can do. Their dry listing of victories alone cannot fail to impress - the silver medalist of the Olympic Games, seven-time world and European champion, eleven times became the world record holder, was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports.
Leaving the big sport and switching to coaching, Marat Niyazov won the world fame of a professional coach here as well. He trained Bulgarian athletes, trained shooters from the Philippines, Myanmar, Kuwait.
But this is all the sporting side of his life. In whatever century Marat Niyazov lived, he would always remain faithful to the knightly concepts of honor, dignity and justice. A man of great love of life, spiritual generosity, he eventually acquired new titles - a loving husband, a caring father, an affectionate grandfather. He had already stepped over the eighth decade for a long time, but still continued to conduct coaching work, still traveling around the world. Once he decided: that's enough, he has a home, a loving and beloved wife, children, grandchildren, what else a person needs to calmly meet the autumn of his life. However, I didn't have a chance to rest on the bench.
When Marat Atayevich Niyazov turned 75, an event occurred in the life of the legendary athlete that he had never expected: he was invited to the set. The director of the state film association named after Oguzkhan Kerim Annanov started filming the short film "Autumn" based on the novel by his father Baba Annanov, and was looking for a leading actor ... By chance he saw Marat Niyazov, whom he had known for many years, in the city. The famous shooter, in addition to his magnificent mustache, also grew a beard, taking on the appearance of a fine-looking jashuli. “This is my hero,” the director thought. He offered the role to the athlete and he, after reading the script, immediately agreed.
"Autumn" is a touching story of two lonely old men - Balaj aga and Axoltan eje. Many years ago, a ridiculous accident did not allow them to connect with each other, but decades later, a lucky chance still brought them to each other. The non-professional actor did a great job. It was an accurate, direct fit.
The film was shot in autumn in the most beautiful places near Ashgabat. This was the last autumn of the patriarch of Turkmen sports. In the same year, Marat Atayevich died. There is a scene in the film where Balaja aga, depicting a gun with his fingers, aims at the crow that has bothered him with his croaking. What can you do: the shooter is the shooter.
Vladimir Zarembo
