Biography

Rafael Aghayev is a leading Azerbaijani Karate competitor and is four times World, nine times European champion.

Graduating from the secondary school No.21 in 2003, he entered the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sport, the faculty of martial arts as per specialty trainer-instructor in karate under the department «Martial Arts and its techniques», which he graduated in 2007. From 2007 to 2008 he served in the armed forces on the territory of Aghjabadi District of the Republic, then he was transferred to the Central Sports Club of the Ministry of Defense as a promising sportsman.

Aghayev was never faced with a question to go in for sports or not, since his father, being a professional soccer player, cultivated love for sports to him and also to two older brothers. The oldest brother Ruslan began to train in judo, the second brother Rustam involved in boxing and has good results. Aghayev, like many other boys from childhood had to find their place in life, and he began following in the footsteps of his father, from 7 years became involved in football and at the same time began karate trainings in the sports class of his first coach Rafael Mammadov, who cultivated great love of karate to him and taught the first skills. This went on for several years.

Participating at the first national competitions, he was noticed and invited to train in one of the famous sports clubs of the Republic «Budokan» under the leadership of Fizuli Musayev.
- IMDb mini biography by: Fuad Alakbari