"Karate diamond"

Japanese fans call him "the karate diamond". Rafayel Agayev is a many-time European and world champion and one of the leading karate fighters.

The only medal he lacks is an Olympic medal only because karate is not an Olympic sport.

Agayev, who recently joined the Qabala club, won another gold medal at the 48th European championship in Hungary.

- You are probably accustomed to winning European championships.

- Each victory is very important. Many people think that renowned sportsmen find it easy to win. This is not true. Our rivals prepare for a fight against us more thoroughly and everybody wants to defeat a renowned sportsman. The Budapest championship was not easy. Those who saw my fights can confirm this.

- What was your hardest battle like?

- Until I reached the final I went through four phases and defeated sportsmen from Austria, Slovakia, Portugal and Italy. Italian Luigi Busa was particularly outstanding of these. Fighting against him was of a particular importance. I met him last year in the world championship final. The match ended in a 0:0 draw but the arbiters gave him the victory. The decision strongly disappointed me at the time but I knew that we would meet on the rink again and I would be able to demonstrate my skills.

- So, your toughest fight was with Luigi Busa

- That time I only fought for victory and I proved that I was stronger. I was not thinking of a revenge. I only wanted to win. Talking about the toughest fight I should mention the final with a Dutch Karate fighter. I eventually won the game and became a world champion. I would like to thank the Gabala sports club for creating good conditions to prepare for the championship.

- How many gold medals have won in the European championship? Don't you lose track?

- (Smiles) No, I don't. This is my seventh victory in the continental championship. However, I want to win more. No sportsman forgets about their success.

- I watched your final fight on the Russian channel Boets. They greatly praised your skills. It does not always happen that Azerbaijani sportsmen get so much praise on foreign channels.

- I have been told that I was named the leading karate fighter in the world. All our sportsmen deserve praise. As for the Russian commentators, they often arrive in Baku and interview me.

-You have won many continental and world championships. Do you have an unfulfilled dream?

- I would very much like to take part in summer Olympics but karate is not an Olympic sport and my dream will remain unfulfilled so far. Baku will host the European Olympics for the first time in 2015. Karate has been included in it. I want to fight very well at home.

- Why is karate not included in the Olympic programme?

- Karate is one of the most popular sport types. However, the fight involves many contacts with the opponent which causes a lot of disputes. In any event, it is one of the ancient and most popular sport types. A number of films helped promote karate to an even greater extent.

- What are your expectations of the European Olympics?

- I think Baku will host these historic Olympics at a high level and all the countries in the continent will be impressed at the high organizational level. For my part, I would like to win. I think I will be able to do so since I am in a good shape now. I will never forgive myself if I fail to participate in the Olympics. The inclusion of karate in the programme brings us closer to the Olympic movement.

- You are a four-time world and eight-time European champion. Will you continue gaining more titles?

- I will fight as long as I can. My father wants me to become a five-time world and 10-time European champion. I need to fulfill my father's wish. I have many goals. To become the five-time world championship, I need to work a lot.

- Russian commentators say that you give your fans a real show. What do you think of this?

- I try to give a dynamic fight. Spectators want to see interesting stunts and beautiful strikes. This is probably why they say that my strikes are reminiscent of a show. During the fights I do not like taking a minute's rest.

- Rafael Agayev is a favourite sportsman for many fans. Does this increase your sense of responsibility?

- I am an ordinary person but if I see a lot of fans during a match, I am very happy. I guess they love my victories. I would like to always have them by my side. No sportsman can win all the time. I may lose at some point.

- What is the secret of your success? What specifically do you do during the trainings?

- When trainings end I do not run away home. Whenever I can I do some training in taekwondo which reduces pain in the legs. During the matches I am psychologically prepared to face my opponent.

- You lead a youth national karate team of Azerbaijan. How good are your kids?

- Sportsmen in our team have their private coaches. I lead the general process of trainings. After I was appointed the chief coach, three Azerbaijani sportsmen became European champions and one became a world champion. However, I need to admit that I prefer training myself to training youth.

- Sportsmen usually participate in various films. Have you had any such experience?

- I took part in a film called Don't Be Afraid, I am with You-2. I was asked to do one of the leads but a trauma did not allow me to do so. Therefore, I played a relatively minor role. Films are an ordinary thing for a karate fighter.