MEDAL HOPES

Regionplus is continuing its publications on the types of sport that will be represented at the First European Games in Baku. Today's edition is on karate, a rapidly developing type of single combat.

Karate will be one of the four non-Olympic sports to be represented at the European Games.

Karate is divided into three main sections: kihon (the main element in the preliminary development of technique); kata (the consistency of movements connected with the principles of fighting a duel with an imaginary opponent) and kumite (hand-to-hand combat) 

Kata and kumite contests are to be held at the European Games in Baku. 

Millions of people world-wide have taken up karate since it came into being on the island of Okinawa less than 100 years ago. The European Karate Federation is publically funded within the framework of the principles of the Olympic regulations. Europe has become one of the three world centres of karate.

The competitions in this type of single combat within the framework of the First European Games are to be held on 13-14 June 2015. Ten competitions in individual kumite and two in kata are to take place on those days. Forty-eight women and 48 men in five weight categories are to take part in the competitions at Baku's Crystal Hall. The contestants' qualifying place will be allocated in accordance with the ratings at other competitions and the principles of universality.

The Azerbaijan National Karate Federation has been an official member of the World Karate Federation since 1997. World and European champion, black-belt, 7th Dan, Yashar Bashirov is president of the Azerbaijan Karate Federation.

Azerbaijan's karate team is one of the strongest in the world. The country's karatisti have repeatedly produced impressive results at world and European championships. The team includes many-time world and European champion, World Games winner Rafael Aghayev, junior and cadet world champions Israfil Shirinov and Aykhan Mamayev, European champions Ceyhun Agasiyev, Rustam Madatov, Niyazi Aliyev, Feyyaz Ildirimzada and European Championship bronze medal winners Amal Atayev, Sahin Atamov and Rasad Huseynov.

The fact that we have been granted the right to hold the 39th European Junior and Cadet European Championship is proof of Azerbaijan's achievements.

The line-up for the country's squad at the First European Games will announced in May by the coaches headed by Rahman Xatamov. But even now we can forecast who will be in the team: in kumite - Firdovsi Farzaliyev  (60 kg), Niyazi Aliyev (67 kg), Rafael Agayev (75 kg), Ayxan Mamayev (84 kg), Sahin Atamov (over 84 kg), Nurana Aliyeva (50 kg), Ilaha Qasimova  (55 kg), Farida Abiyeva (61 kg); in kata - Tural Balcani and Adila Qurbanova. These karatisti are the strongest in the country. Unless they get injured or any other emergency crops up, this is the team that will take part in the First European Games.

 The fans are quite justly expecting medals to be won by their karate team. The national team was the winner of the European championships in the team ratings in 2014.

The members of the team are strong in individual competitions. It is sufficient just to mention the name of the team's captain, Rafael Agayev. President of the World Karate Federation Antonio Espinos called this many-time World and European champion "a gem of world karate". R. Agayev has already become a nightmare to many of his rivals. Agayev's main aim is to win a gold medal at the forthcoming European Games: "2015 is very important year for all karatisti. I have repeatedly won at World and European championships and in other competitions. I would like to add an Olympic medal to my collection, but unfortunately karate is not an Olympic sport. I was therefore pleased when karate was included in the European Games. We have been training for these competitions since the beginning of the year. All our thoughts are focussed on the European Games because I want to become a champion in Baku."

Sahin Atamov, who is entered in the 84 kg and above category may be yet another potential medal winner at the European Games. He has won medals at the many competitions, in which he took part over the last few years. "It is not very good to say anything beforehand. We were very pleased that karate was included in the list sports that will be represented at the First European Games in Baku. This is a good opportunity for each member of our team to achieve success. It is doubly hard to win a medal in front of our own fans, it would be a very great honour. I know that the strongest karatisti on the continent will be coming to Baku. But we are ready for the fight with them. We are not afraid of anyone. I believe that the karatisti will come out of these competitions with honour," S. Atamov said.

Azerbaijani sportsmen are to take part in a number of tournaments in the next few months. The final stage of training is starting in May. It can be forecast that, in the 20 sports represented in the forthcoming European Games, the karatisti are capable of contributing the most medals to the country's collection.