Kazakhstani judoka Yeldos Smetov has won a gold medal at the World Judo Championship in Astana, Tengrinews reports citing Vesti.kz.
Kazakhstani judoka Yeldos Smetov has won a gold medal at the World Judo Championship in Astana, Tengrinews reports citing Vesti.kz.
In the final bout of the 60 kg weight division, Smetov defeated his fellow countryman Rustam Ibrayev. As a result, Kazakhstan has one gold and one silver medal so far.
In the semifinals, Smetov defeated Toru Shishima from Japan, while Ibrayev won Boldbaatar Ganbat from Mongolia.
Kazakhstan is represented at the World Championship by World Champion Maxim Rakov, silver medalist of the World Championship Azamat Mukanov, Asian Games winner Yeldos Smetov, and Olympic athletes Alexandra Podryadova and Gulzhan Issanova.
This year Kazakhstani judokas have a chance to win the needed points at the World Judo Championship to participate in the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.
823 judokas (495 men and 328 women) from 137 countries are competing for medals in seven weight divisions in Astana from August 24 to 30. This is the first time Kazakhstan is hosting the event.
By Gyuzel Kamalova