Kazakhstan's national team fails to secure any medals on the second day of the Grand Slam competition held in Dushanbe.
Gone Home Empty-Handed: Kazakh Judokas Struggle at Dushanbe Grand Slam
Kicking off day two of the pulsating Dushanbe Grand Slam tournament, Kazakhstan's male representatives found themselves on the wrong end of the results, our correspondent confirms.
In the action-packed under-73 kg weight division, Kazakhstani athletes Ikylas Alseyt and Anuarbek Gainullin suffered loss in their opening bouts. Alseyt succumbed to an impressive ippon from Turkmenistan's Meylis Shamuradov, while Gainullin was edged out by Chinese judoka Junlong Gou in regulation time.
Disappointment continued to shadow our boys as Doshan Zholzhaksynov was defeated in the under-81 kg division by a striking Turkmenistan opponent, Ilham Soyunzhov.
Unfortunately, none of the three Kazakhstani warriors managed to secure a place in the repechage round, denying them a shot at the coveted bronze medal. Consequently, the Kazakhstani contingent's medal tally at the Dushanbe Grand Slam remains limited to a solitary bronze earned by Abiba Abujakynova. As the competition enters its final day, Yermekhan Esteayev and Mukhammadeali Mavliyev will represent the nation in the over-100 kg division.
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Though the Kazakh team faced a challenging day, neighboring Azerbaijan made a notable impact, with Balabey Aghayev securing a gold medal in the -60 kg category on the opening day[5]. Overall, the Dushanbe Grand Slam has seen Tajikistan dominate, with France, Mongolia, Croatia, and Azerbaijan trailing behind[1]. Tajikistan secured two gold medals and one bronze on day two[3]. The tournament's final standings are eagerly awaited.
[1] Grand Slam Dushanbe 2025 Final Standings (as of Day 1)[3] Tajikistan's Medal Haul on Day 2: 2 Gold, 1 Bronze[5] Aghayev Wins Azerbaijan's First Gold at Grand Slam Dushanbe
In contrast, Kalamkas Zholzhaksynov, a Kazakh judoka in the under-81 kg division, missed the opportunity to gain a place in the repechage round after being defeated by Ilham Soyunzhov from Turkmenistan. Zholzhaksynov's loss denied him a shot at the bronze medal, much like his fellow countrywide warriors Ikylas Alseyt, Anuarbek Gainullin, and Doshan Zholzhaksynov (no relation to Kalamkas), who also missed their chance at gaining a bronze medal during the Dushanbe Grand Slam.
Despite the setbacks for the Kazakhstani team, the tournament has been dominated by Tajikistan, with France, Mongolia, Croatia, and Azerbaijan trailing behind. Azerbaijani judokas, however, made a notable impression, with Balabey Aghayev securing a gold medal in the -60 kg category on the opening day.
The Kazakhstani sports team will look to regain their footing on the final day of the tournament, as Yermekhan Esteayev and Mukhammadeali Mavliyev represent the nation in the over-100 kg division. It remains to be seen whether they can help turn around the team's medal tally, which currently stands at just one bronze medal, earned by Abiba Abujakynova.
