Azerbaijan’s ‘black brilliant' and his 'gold medalist' son

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan’s ‘black brilliant’ Rafael Aghayev won a gold medal in karate (kumite) competitions at the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku.

He secured the gold medal thanks to a victory over Pakistani Ghulam Abbas in the 75kg division final.

The karate fighter posed for photographers together with his two-month son after winning the gold medal.

Rafael Aghayev, five times world and 10-times European champion, who fights in 75kg weight class started his way at 1/8 final stage. He defeated his first rival, Turkish sportsman Erman Eltemur with score 3:0. He took victory (5:2) over Saudi Arabian Sultan Al-Zahrani at quarter final.

The Baku 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, the opening ceremony of which took place May 12, started May 8 and will last until May 22 in Azerbaijan’s capital.

Athletes from Islamic countries around the world will be representing their nations over 10 days of competition across 20 different sports which include 23 disciplines (Athletics and Para Athletics, Aquatics – Diving, Aquatics – Swimming, Aquatics – Water Polo, Basketball 3x3, Football, Gymnastics – Artistic, Gymnastics – Rhythmic, Wushu, Table Tennis, Handball, Judo and Blind Judo, Wrestling – Greco, Wrestling – Freestyle, Shooting, Tennis, Volleyball, Boxing, Zurkhaneh, Karate, Taekwondo and Weightlifting) in 16 modern competition venues in Baku.

Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku was awarded the Games at the General Assembly of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) in Jeddah in July 2013.