Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, October 20, 2020: A 10-member national squad will represent Kazakhstan when international judo returns to the mat at the World Grand Slam tournament in Budapest, Hungary this weekend.
“We were waiting for the decision of the interdepartmental commission under the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan to go abroad during the pandemic. The commission has now allowed judokas to participate in this world competition in strict compliance with the health requirements,” said Kazakhstan judo head coach Aidyn Smagulov.
The Kazakhstan squad will comprise: Gusman Kyrgyzbayev, 60kg; Eldos Zhumakanov and Erlan Serikzhanov, 66kg; Zhansai Smagulov, 73kg; Didar Hamza, 81kg; Islam Bozbayev, 90kg; Aibek Serikbayev and Victor Demyaneko, 100kg; and Erasyl Kazhybayev and Galymzhan Kyrkbay, 100-plus kg.
“Even during the pandemic, members of the national team did not stop training at home. All athletes are at a good level and I believe we will be at the same standards as athletes from the rest of the world,” head coach Smagulov said.
Smagulov added: “The Budapest tatami will bring together the strongest judokas in the world rankings. Everyone has missed competition. Since there has been no international competition for a long time, everyone will want to take this opportunity to score points in the World and Olympic rankings.”
Zhansai Smagulov, who will fight at 73kg, said: “We are happy that the World Judo championships will resume. We have not competed for about eight months since the beginning of the pandemic. I think all the athletes will be very careful on the mat. Everyone’s focus will be on securing Olympic ranking points.”
A total of 459 competitors - 287 men and 172 women – from 69 countries, including 11 from Asia, will take part in the three-day tournament.
