Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov claims gold U73kg

Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov (AIN) is the fittest man of the moment. Winner in Dushanbe two weeks ago he now took gol at the Grand Slam in Qazaqstan Barysy. After a tough first round against Rashid Mammadaliyev (AZE), won on penalties, Makhmadbekov won against the Algerian judoka Messaoud Redouane Dris, with excellent work on the ground, for a conclusion by immobilisation for ippon in less than a minute. In the semi-final, he was opposed by local Deniyar Shamshayev (KAZ).

Makhmadbekov’s first waza-ari from a hip movement came after only 1 minute and 12 seconds had passed and was then superseded by an armlock and ippon at halftime of the contest.

If Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov was one of the potential winners from the morning of the competition, his opponent in the final, the Polish judoka Adam Stodolski, without reference at the international level, was a surprise. Winner against the tall Benjamin Axus (FRA) in the first round, he surprised the Kazakh Zhansay Smagulov (KAZ) with an unstoppable juji-gatame after a minute of golden score. He still had one Kazakh athlete to pass in the semi-final, Askar Narkulov, which he did.

Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov has definitely found the way to reach gold, as he did it again in Astana, after pinning Adam Stodolski for ippon. This remains a really good result for the Polish judoka as well.

Kazakhstan offered themselves a medal in the first men’s category of the day since the first match for a bronze medal opposed Zhansay Smagulov and Deniyar Shamshayev, both from the home nation. A first waza-ari came from Deniyar Shamshayev with an acrobatic seoi-nage, enough for Shamshayev to win the bronze medal.

Another medal could still be added to the collection of the host country, since Askar Narkulov qualified to compete against Giorgi Terashvili (GEO) for the gain of the second bronze medal. After Giorgi Terashvili was penalised with hansoku-make for a head-dive, this bronze medal actually went to Kazakhstan as well.