WIN AND HOLD

Azerbaijani karatekas continued their success this year with effective performance at the European Championship in Guadalajara, Spain, winning four medals in total. The Diamond of world karate, as he is nicknamed in the sports world, Rafael Aghayev (75 kg) returned from Spain with silver medal, Asiman Gurbanly (+84 kg) with a bronze medal. Third place was awarded to Roman Heydarov in kata competitions, and Sahib Ahadov became the gold medallist of the European Para-Karate Championship.

Initially, the fans put high hopes on our team leader Rafael Aghayev. After winning four times, the multiple world and European champion did not stop the fight even after the injury in the semifinals. In the decisive meeting, Aghayev lost the gold medal to four-time European champion Luigi Busa (0:1).

By the way, it was the 13^th final round of the continental championship in Rafael's career. He won 11 of the previous 12 final fights. Aghayev, who is currently preparing for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, has consistently won medals in all previous competitions.

Upon returning to Azerbaijan, the athlete shared his impressions with R+. "Our team has been trained by the new head coach for three months. In any sport, it takes time to achieve the desired results with a new coach. It is necessary to adapt to his tactics and technique. I am sure that we will succeed," R. Aghayev said.

He also said he was in good shape. "In two of the three competitions in which I performed this year, I reached the finals and returned from all competitions with a medal. Unfortunately, I could not get the gold medal yet. However, in professional sports it is impossible to be at your best all year round. There are both ups and downs. In general, I am satisfied. The main goal is to participate in the Olympics in Tokyo and return with a medal. Therefore, I am not afraid to become the second or the third best athlete of the Olympic Games. No matter what they say, I know my physical abilities better and I think that I am fit. I can get a gold medal at future competitions," Aghayev said.

Aghayev underlined that for the first time karate was included in the program of the Olympic Games, and explained that the conditions for selecting karate players for the Olympics are somewhat different from the conditions of other sports. "In other sports, an athlete receives an Olympic license after becoming the winner of 2 or 3 previous competitions. Everything will become clear in March 2020 at the European Championship to be held in Azerbaijan. To win a ticket to the Olympics, you must get into the top four. According to the results of licensed tournaments, I am currently the second. I have to keep this place in the upcoming competitions," R. Aghayev said.

The closest tournament in which he will have to prove himself is the second European Games to be held in Belarus. The Azerbaijani karate player is targeting the gold medal of the Continental Games.

President of the National Karate Federation of Azerbaijan, Yashar Bashirov, pointed to the great chances of Rafael Aghayev and Irina Zaretskaya to get an Olympic license. "Each championship is an opportunity to earn licenses. I believe that Rafael will win not only a ticket to the Games, but also the Olympic medal. He is a legendary athlete. The chances of Irina Zaretskaya are also great. The European Championship will be held next year at the National Gymnastic Arena of Azerbaijan, and will be attended by athletes from fifty countries of the world. There is still time. Other team members also have chances. It will be a good indicator for us if we can earn four licenses," Y. Bashirov said.

The bronze medallist of the European Championship, Asiman Gurbanly, also aims to rise to the first step of the podium of the second European Games in Minsk. "Although I lost the fight with Jonathan Gorny from Germany, in the fight for the bronze I defeated the Ukrainian athlete Rizvan Talibov (7:5). I became qualified for the second European Games, which will be held this year. I hope to return from Belarus as a champion. Becoming qualified for the summer Olympics is an extremely difficult task. But I hope I can," A. Gurbanly said.

European Para-Karate champion Sahib Ahadov also has ambitious plans for future. "Para-karate competition is high at the international level. My main goal is to become a world champion," the athlete, who has once become a finalist of the World Judo Cup, said. By changing judo to karate on the recommendation of his coach, Ahadov makes every effort to become a para-karate world champion.

In a word, Azerbaijani national team faces a bitter struggle for trophies of the second European Games and Olympic licenses. The National Karate Federation hopes that a significant contribution to future victories will be brought by the Turkish specialist Baheddin Kandaz as the new head coach of the national karate team.