{{Short description|Azerbaijan karateka (born 1985)}} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Rafael Aghayev | image = Rafael Aghayev at the K1PL Berlin 2018-09-16 Male Kumite –75 kg.jpg | caption = Aghayev in 2018 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|3|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = Sumgait, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | native_name = Rafael Ağayev | other_names = | nickname = Panther of the East <br /> Diamond of the Karate World | residence = | nationality = | height = 167 cm | weight_class = -75 kg | martial_art = Shotokan | teacher = Rahman Hatamov | rank = Black Belt, 5th dan | students = | website = | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's karate }} {{MedalCountry | {{AZE}} }} {{MedalCompetition | Summer Olympics }} {{MedalSilver| 2020 Tokyo | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalCompetition | World Championships }} {{MedalGold | 2006 Tampere | Kumite −70 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2008 Tokyo | Kumite −70 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2008 Tokyo | Kumite open }} {{MedalGold | 2010 Belgrade | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2016 Linz | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalSilver | 2010 Belgrade | Team kumite }} {{MedalSilver | 2012 Paris | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalBronze | 2018 Madrid | Kumite −75 kg }} {{Medal|Bronze|2021 Dubai|Team kumite}} {{MedalCompetition | European Championships }} {{MedalGold | 2004 Moscow | Kumite −65 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2005 Tenerife | Kumite open }} {{MedalGold | 2007 Bratislava | Kumite −70 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2007 Bratislava | Kumite open }} {{MedalGold | 2008 Tallinn | Kumite open }} {{MedalGold | 2009 Zagreb | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2010 Athens | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2013 Budapest | Kumite -75 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2015 Istanbul | Kumite -75 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2016 Montpellier | Kumite -75 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2018 Novi Sad | Kumite -75 kg }} {{MedalSilver | 2019 Guadalajara | Kumite -75 kg }} {{MedalSilver | 2008 Tallinn | Kumite −70 kg }} {{MedalSilver|2021 Poreč|Kumite -75 kg}} {{Medal|Silver|2022 Gaziantep|Team kumite}} {{MedalBronze | 2008 Tallinn | Team kumite }} {{MedalBronze | 2009 Zagreb | Team kumite }} {{MedalBronze | 2010 Athens | Team kumite }} {{MedalBronze | 2011 Zürich | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalBronze | 2012 Tenerife | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalBronze | 2012 Tenerife | Team kumite }} {{MedalBronze | 2015 Istanbul | Team kumite }} {{Medal|Bronze|2021 Poreč | Team kumite}} {{MedalCompetition | World Games }} {{MedalGold | 2013 Cali | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalCompetition | World Combat Games }} {{MedalGold | 2013 Saint Petersburg | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalCompetition | European Games }} {{MedalGold | 2015 Baku | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalSilver | 2019 Minsk | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalCompetition | Islamic Solidarity Games }} {{MedalGold | 2013 Palembang | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalGold | 2017 Baku | Kumite −75 kg }} {{MedalBronze | 2005 Mecca | Kumite −75 kg }} | footnotes = }}
'''Rafael Mahir Aghayev''' ({{langx|az|Rafael Ağayev}}; born March 4, 1985) 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/10/15/3474794/jack-slacks-top-strikers-rafael-aghayev-the-saviour-of-wkf-karate|title=Jack Slack's Top Strikers: Rafael Aghayev|date=15 October 2012|access-date=22 January 2014|archive-date=7 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007082109/https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/10/15/3474794/jack-slacks-top-strikers-rafael-aghayev-the-saviour-of-wkf-karate|url-status=dead}}</ref> Aghayev was signed by Karate Combat and was the welterweight champion in the promotion with a record of 5-0.
==Early life== After graduating from Sumgait city school No. 21 in 2003, Aghayev entered the field of martial arts at the Azerbaijan Sport Academy 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.<ref name="NFT">{{cite web |url=http://aghayev-rafael.com/#!/about-me/ |title=Rafael Aghayev |publisher=Official Website |access-date=9 October 2013 |archive-date=15 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815180927/http://aghayev-rafael.com/#!/about-me/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
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.<ref name="NFT" />
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.<ref name="NFT" />
==Career== thumb|left|Aghayev hitting Japanese karateka Yusei Sakiyama at 2018 German Open 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.<ref name="NFT" />
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 Espinós called him the "Diamond of the Karate World."<ref name="NFT" />
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 to a new apartment in one of the elite areas of the city, as well as an Audi Q7.<ref name="NFT" />
Currently, Aghayev is captain of the Azerbaijan team, and 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, Aghayev 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.
==Championships and accomplishments== *'''Karate Combat''' **Karate Combat Welterweight Champion (One time; current) **Interim Karate Combat Welterweight Champion (One time; former) *'''World Karate Championships''' **2021 World Karate Championships Bronze Team kumite **2018 World Karate Championships Bronze Kumite -75 kg **2016 World Karate Championships Gold Kumite -75 kg **2012 World Karate Championships Silver Kumite -75 kg **2010 World Karate Championships Silver Team kumite **2010 World Karate Championships Gold Kumite -75 kg **2008 World Karate Championships Gold Kumite open **2008 World Karate Championships Gold Kumite -70 kg **2006 World Karate Championships Gold Kumite -70 kg *'''European Karate Championships''' **2022 European Karate Championships Silver Team kumite **2021 European Karate Championships Silver Kumite -75 kg **2021 European Karate Championships Bronze Team kumite **2019 European Karate Championships Silver Kumite -75 kg **2018 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite -75 kg **2016 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite -75 kg **2015 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite -75 kg **2015 European Karate Championships Bronze Team kumite **2013 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite -75 kg **2012 European Karate Championships Bronze Kumite -75 kg **2012 European Karate Championships Bronze Team kumite **2011 European Karate Championships Bronze Kumite -75 kg **2010 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite -75 kg **2010 European Karate Championships Bronze Team kumite **2009 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite -75 kg **2009 European Karate Championships Bronze Team kumite **2008 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite open **2008 European Karate Championships Bronze Team kumite **2007 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite open **2007 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite -70 kg **2005 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite open **2004 European Karate Championships Gold Kumite -65 kg *'''Summer Olympic Games''' **2020 Summer Olympics Silver Kumite -75 kg *'''World Games''' **2013 World Games Gold Kumite -75 kg *'''World Combat Games''' **2013 World Combat Games Gold Kumite -75 kg *'''European Games''' **2019 European Games Silver Kumite -75 kg **2015 European Games Gold Kumite -75 kg *'''Islamic Solidarity Games''' **Islamic Solidarity Games Gold Kumite -75 kg **Islamic Solidarity Games Gold Kumite -75 kg **Islamic Solidarity Games Bronze Kumite -75 kg
==Karate Combat record== {{MMArecordbox |draws= |nc= |ko-wins=0 |ko-losses= |sub-wins= |sub-losses= |dec-wins=5 |dec-losses= |dq-wins= |dq-losses= }} {{MMA record start}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|5–0 |Josh Quayhagen |Decision (unanimous) |Karate Combat 40 |{{dts|2023|June|24}} |align=center|5 |align=center|3:00 |Miami, Florida, United States |{{small|Won and unified the Karate Combat Welterweight Championship.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|4–0 |Raymond Daniels |Decision (unanimous) |Karate Combat 37 |{{dts|2022|December|17}} |align=center|5 |align=center|3:00 |Orlando, Florida, United States |{{small|Won the interim Karate Combat Welterweight Championship.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|3–0 |Davy Dona |Decision (unanimous) |Karate Combat Season 4 Event 4 |{{dts|2022|June|25}} |align=center|3 |align=center|3:00 |Orlando, Florida, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|2–0 |Zsolt Habda |Decision (unanimous) |Karate Combat Season 4 Event 3 |{{dts|2022|June|11}} |align=center|3 |align=center|3:00 |Orlando, Florida, United States | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|1–0 |Dionicio Gustavo |Decision (unanimous) |Karate Combat: Genesis |{{dts|2018|February|3}} |align=center|3 |align=center|3:00 |Budapest, Hungary | {{end}}
== See also == * Karate World Championships * European Karate Championships
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Rəfael Ağayev}} * {{Instagram|aghayev_rafael|Rafael Aghayev}} * {{WKF ranking|AZE133|Rafael Aghayev}} * {{Olympics.com|rafael-aghayev|Rafael Aghayev}} * {{Olympedia|name=Rəfael Ağayev}} * {{Olympic.az profile|rafael-agayev|Rafael Ağayev}} * {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20131009021809/http://gerunov.com/?page_id=1945 |date=dmy |title=Путь к Победе Рафаэль Агаев}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aghayev, Rafael}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Sumgait Category:Azerbaijani male karateka Category:Karate coaches Category:Shotokan practitioners Category:World Games gold medalists Category:Karateka at the 2015 European Games Category:Medalists at the 2015 European Games Category:Karateka at the 2019 European Games Category:Medalists at the 2019 European Games Category:European Games medalists in karate Category:European Games gold medalists for Azerbaijan Category:European Games silver medalists for Azerbaijan Category:Islamic Solidarity Games medalists in karate Category:Karateka at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic karateka for Azerbaijan Category:Olympic medalists in karate Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic silver medalists for Azerbaijan Category:21st-century Azerbaijani sportsmen Category:Islamic Solidarity Games gold medalists for Azerbaijan Category:Islamic Solidarity Games bronze medalists for Azerbaijan Category:World Games medalists for Azerbaijan Category:Medalists at the 2013 World Games