Last weekend, Stanislav Horuna won the gold medal at the European Games by beating the "King" Aghayev, his best enemy on the tatami, his best friend on the circuit. Neither their direct competition for the Olympic qualification, nor their Gold rush, tarnishes this friendship.
The Ukrainian, who is currently experiencing the most prolific period of his career (one year to go to the Olympics...), talks about his friend “Rafa”, his win in Minsk, the key to his success against Aghayev, built thanks to his loss in the European ½ final...
By Ludovic Mauchien / Photos : Kphotos
They are certainly the two best friends on the circuit. A friendship that stops when entering the tatami. But not mutual respect. No gifts, but no monky business, just Karate. And always a committed fight, where every moment can offer a flight of poetry, a lyrical and magical moment.
Nothing, however, seemed to predestinate such a friendship, if not the beauty of sport. One is Ukrainian and lawyer, Stanislav Horuna, the second is Azerbaijani and Karateka, Rafael Aghayev. Both are in direct competition in -75 kg and the 2nd one has certainly deprived the 1st one of several titles.
The 1st fight that Stanislav Horna remembers was (already) a final. It was in the 2013 Tuymen Premier League. Before, thay had met once (in the 2012 Europeans). Horuna had just won the 1st out of 9 success in Karate 1. Aghayev was already 4 times World champion. It's the Caucasian who will win.
Their last fight, the 5th one, was thus the European Games’ final in Minsk last Sunday. This time, it was Stanislav Horuna who mastered his subject. A Ura Mawashi to show in all schools, 4-0 ! Rarely, "Stan" had dominated "Rafa" so much.
A coincidence ? Not really. At the end of his loss in the ½ final of the European Championships in Guadalajara, the Ukrainian champion confided to us that he "understood how to beat ‘him’ ". Obviously, it wasn’t just talk ! In Minsk, Horuna, 30, signed his 2nd success in 2 months, his 4th in a year, certainly the most beautiful of his career.
On the podium, the Ukrainian seemed helpless against the sadness of the Azerbaijani. Because only the time of their match makes them forget their friendship. And yet, their duel will become more and more pregnant.
Stanislav Horuna is currently 6th in the Olympic ranking, and 1st unqualified position (see OJ ranking below), the fault to a missed World championship (loss in the last 32 against Bitsch). He is 360 points behind US Thomas Scott (5th) and 640 behind a certain... Rafael Aghayev (4th). 2014 and 2017 European runner-up champion, 3rd in 2018 and 2019, the Ukrainian could well be the man of the year 2020...
His Gold medal…
« Not very many people can feel and live this moment on the podium, when you get this Gold medal, when you beat the best athlete. It’s a lot of pleasure, a lot of satisfaction, because a lot of work was done. A long way has passed. In Minsk, there was the Gold. It’s very important for me to have achieved this.
What can I say ? This is the best result I have ever had in my career. Of course, I am happy ».
His final against Aghayev : 4-0…
« Last March, we had a ½ final with Rafael at the European championships. I lost. But, right after, I told you that I got new informations about how he works, how he moves. So, I have worked on it. Before the final (in Minsk), I knew what to do with him. I could predict his movements. I was ready to fight with him ».
1st in Rabat and Minsk. A new Horuna ?
(He laughs) « Not new, not new, but, right now, I am in a good shape. And if I am able to keep this shape during the coming year, you will see many finals with me, be sure. It’s all about my shape. I feel good, I don’t have problems with finance and so on (Sergei Bubka invested money to pay a high level preparation for the Karate national team).
We did a lot of trainings, some very intensive trainings. It was very hard. We worked a lot with recovery techniques to be able to work more, again and again. It was very tough. After this, I didn’t do anything for a week but Karate. That was the program before Minsk ».
His friendship with Rafael (Aghayev)
« Our friendship with Rafael is a bit special. We don’t talk very often. But we always follow each other’s performance. We both know that on the tatami each of us will fight even stronger than if were fighting against someone else. And because of this, because we both realize our strong inner competition, our friendship is more valuable than with the other athletes.
This open contest between us is fair and, despite it, we always support each other. I think it is because we respect each other. And we both know that we won’t make it easy for each other on tatami. That is real fight ! Our friendship was like naturally made. The 1st time, we didn’t talk much. Since, time has passed, we get to know each other, but it’s hard to explain.
For me, it’s luck to be in the same category than Rafael. That’s the main principle of chessmen - want to improve yourself - play with the strongest ! I agree with this ! And very proud to have such strong opponent in my category ! Our fights always begin without talking. We are at the same mental state and we understand thoughts of each other ».
The Olympic ranking
(July 1st 2019)
- Asgari, 4537
- Busa, 4350
- Nishimura, 3922 (automatically qualified)
- Aghayev, 3825
- Scott, 3547
- Horuna, 3187
- Otabolaev, 2310
- Harspataki, 2287
- Eltemur, 2272
- Abdelaziz, 2257
Just after their final.
