Fighting for Azerbaijan in the international forum, Gabala Sports Club"s karateist Rafael Aghayev is extending his titles to the winner of the 48th European Championship in Hungary. He gave no chance to his opponents running up to the final to meet Rene Small from Netherlands amongst all 32 sportsmen. Rafael, 75 kg, beat the Dutch fighter in the pulsating final. The result left him having his 11th European gold medal of the World Karate Federation. 

Aghayev talks to gabalafc.az after the match:

“As you know, it is one of the most difficult and important tournaments where most famous and strong fighters of Europe fight. I came on four fights to beat karateists from Austria, Slovakia, Portugal and Italy before the final. It was especially hard to defeat Italian Luigi Busa in the semifinal. I had faced him before in the final of the World championship in last November when we ended in 0:0 and the referees named him the winner. But now I gave him no chance.

The final fight also was difficult but I could beat Rene. This is not only my win but also both Azerbaijan and Gabala Sports Club”.

Azerbaijan attended the championship with 13 fighters including 2 women and 11 men amongst total 497 fighters from 45 countries. The tournament is going to end tomorrow.