sport.wikisort.org - Athlete

Rafael Mahir Aghayev (Azerbaijani: Rafael Ağayev; born March 4, 1985 in Sumqayit, Azerbaijan SSR) is an Azerbaijani karateka. He won the silver medal in the men's kumite 75 kg division at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He is a five-time World Champion, and eleven-time European Champion in his discipline.[1] Aghayev is currently signed by Karate Combat and is 3-0.

Rafael Aghayev
Aghayev in 2016
Born	(1985-03-04) 4 March 1985 (age 37) Sumqayit, Azerbaijan
Native name	Rafael Ağayev
Other names	Panther of the East Diamond of the Karate World
Nationality	Azerbaijan
Height	167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Division	-75 kg
Style	Shotokan
Teacher(s)	Rahman Hatamov
Rank	Black Belt, 5th dan
Website	aghayev-rafael.com
Medal record Men's karate Representing  Azerbaijan Summer Olympics 2020 Tokyo Kumite −75 kg World Championships 2006 Tampere Kumite −70 kg 2008 Tokyo Kumite −70 kg 2008 Tokyo Kumite open 2010 Belgrade Kumite −75 kg 2016 Linz Kumite −75 kg 2010 Belgrade Team kumite 2012 Paris Kumite −75 kg 2018 Madrid Kumite −75 kg 2021 Dubai Team kumite European Championships 2004 Moscow Kumite −65 kg 2005 Tenerife Kumite open 2007 Bratislava Kumite −70 kg 2007 Bratislava Kumite open 2008 Tallinn Kumite open 2009 Zagreb Kumite −75 kg 2010 Athens Kumite −75 kg 2013 Budapest Kumite -75 kg 2015 Istanbul Kumite -75 kg 2016 Montpellier Kumite -75 kg 2018 Novi Sad Kumite -75 kg 2019 Guadalajara Kumite -75 kg 2008 Tallinn Kumite −70 kg 2021 Poreč Kumite -75 kg 2022 Gaziantep Team kumite 2008 Tallinn Team kumite 2009 Zagreb Team kumite 2010 Athens Team kumite 2011 Zürich Kumite −75 kg 2012 Tenerife Kumite −75 kg 2012 Tenerife Team kumite 2015 Istanbul Team kumite 2021 Poreč Team kumite World Games 2013 Cali Kumite −75 kg World Combat Games 2013 Saint Petersburg Kumite −75 kg European Games 2015 Baku Kumite −75 kg 2019 Minsk Kumite −75 kg Islamic Solidarity Games 2013 Palembang Kumite −75 kg 2017 Baku Kumite −75 kg 2005 Mecca Kumite −75 kg

Early life

After graduating from secondary school No. 21 in 2003, Aghayev entered the field of martial arts at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sport graduating in 2007 as a specialty trainer-instructor in karate. From 2007 to 2008, he served in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the Aghjabadi District, before being transferred to the Central Sports Club of the Ministry of Defence due to his status as a promising sportsman.[2]

Aghayev's father encouraged a love for sports in his three sons, and thus, Aghayev always intended to pursue a career in athletics.  His oldest brother Ruslan trained in Judo, and his second oldest brother Rustam is a boxer.[2]

At seven years old, Aghayev became involved in football, and at the same time, began training in karate under the instruction of his first coach, Rafael Mammadov. He went on to train for several years. Participating in the first national competition, he was noticed and invited to train in one of the famous sports clubs of the Republic, Budokan, under the leadership of Fizuli Musayev.[2]

Career

At the first championship of the Republic, Aghayev won an overwhelming victory over all his rivals and was noted by the President of the National Karate Federation, Yashar Bashirov, who saw great potential in him and his unusual fighting tactics. Aghayev was very diligent and had the will to win, but he lacked international experience. He first took part in the National Team in 1997, at the open World Cup in Miskolc, Hungary. His first performances were not successful at the international level competition, but the next year he won the Open Championship of England and performed very well from then on.[2]

At his first World Championship among Cadets and Juniors, which was held in 2001 in Athens, he won 3rd place in the team event, and the following year became the European Champion. Thus, up to this day, he holds the lead in his weight class. Despite his young age, he managed to achieve all of the highest sporting victories in karate; he is a multiple European Champion and repeated as World Champion. At one World Championship he was able to win two gold medals. This happened in 2008 at the 18th World Championship in Tokyo, when he won in the 70 kg weight category and in the open category. The President of the World Karate Federation, Antonio Espinosa called him the "Diamond of the Karate World."[2]

Hidayat Shabanov, a senior team coach, played an important role in Aghayev's career. For more than eight years, Shabanov trained him and shared in his victories. For outstanding sports achievements at the international arena, Aghayev has repeatedly received awards from the National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan Republic, and he ranked amongst the ten best sportsmen of the country for several consecutive years. From the official sponsor of the Federation, the International Bank of Azerbaijan, he received the keys for a new apartment in one of the elite areas of the city, as well as an Audi Q7.[2]

Currently, Aghayev is captain of the Azerbaijan team, and is continuing to train and perform under the guidance of new senior coach Rahman Hatamov.

In June 2015, Azerbaijan was the host country for the inaugural European Games. Competing in karate, more specifically Kumite for 75 kilograms, he earned a gold medal.

In August 2021, Aghayev competed in the inaugural Olympics Karate event, earning silver medal in the Men's kumite 75 kg division.

See also

• Karate World Championships
• European Karate Championships

References

External links

• Rafael Aghayev at KarateRec.com
• Rafael Aghayev at Olympedia
• Rafael Aghayev at the International World Games Association
• Rafael Aghayev – World Karate Federation ranking
• Rafael Aghayev on Instagram
• Путь к Победе Рафаэль Агаев

На других языках

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- [en] Rafael Aghayev

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[fr] Rafael Ağayev

Rafael Ağayev, né le 4 mars 1985[1], est un karatéka azéri qui a remporté le titre de champion du monde à 4 reprises. Il est devenu pour la première fois champion du monde en kumite individuel masculin moins de 70 kilos aux championnats du monde de karaté 2006 à Tampere, en Finlande. Il est devenu champion du monde en 2006 en -70 kg à Tampere, en 2008 en -70 kg à Tokyo, en 2010 en -75 kg à Belgrade et en 2016 en -75kg à Linz . Il a le plus gros palmarès du karaté chez les hommes, et il a même été sacré champion d’Europe à 8 reprises entre 2004 et 2015. Il a aussi gagné les premiers jeux européens à Bakou en 2015 et les jeux mondiaux en 2013 à Cali. Plus récemment il finit 3ème au championnat du monde à Madrid en novembre 2018, finit 2ème aux jeux européens en juillet 2019, termine vice champion d’Europe à Madrid en mars 2019, prend la première place à l’open de Moscou en décembre 2019 et même 1er à l’open de Dubaï en février 2020.

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[ru] Агаев, Рафаэль Махир оглы

Рафаэль Махир оглы Агаев (азерб. Rafael Mahir oğlu Ağayev; род. 4 марта 1985, Сумгайыт) — азербайджанский каратист, серебряный призёр Олимпийских игр, пятикратный чемпион мира, одиннадцатикратный чемпион Европы, победитель IX Всемирных игр и Всемирных игр боевых искусств 2013, чемпион Европейских игр 2015 и Исламских игр солидарности 2013 и 2017, заслуженный мастер спорта Азербайджанской Республики (2009).

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