JUDO
FEDERATION

There two World Grand-Prix – and two defeats. There are two finals – and two silver medals. When you hope only for the golden medal in fights, the second place doesn’t give comfort, it excites tears. Aleksandra Podryadova (48 kg) is talented and strong judoka of Kazakhstani national team. She is a guest of our portal now…

Outgoing week and some days were not happy for 24-years-old judoka from Shymkent. Sasha lost in two finals in succession at the world Grand-Prix in Almaty and Shymkent. Wassheweakerthanherrivals? Didshemakecrudemistakes? No. Real reasons of these defeats, as it has proved, are hidden in another thing…

- I had an unpleasant case in Almaty final – Podryadova said. - When I was doing ankle trip for the Russian - my sore knee let me know about itself. It bothers me for a long time, since those days when I have just came in judo. Because of the safety knee simply started to rush out. I did everything with it. I was trying to pump, and applied other treatments - all was in vain. It's a pity also that before the decisive fight everything was fine, nothing was pain. And already during the warm-up, before the final, knee began to stagger. I suggested to myself that finally it would let me down - so it happened. When I was doing ankle trip my foot sweeps, joint came out, I weakened my hands and a rival caught me suffocating. Of course, I was very upset at that time. In the eyes of home fans I gave the gold to that opponent who was not stronger than you, but on the contrary, she was the most convenient of all them (right-hander, takes the upper jaw – author’s note). In general, there are no comments...

- What did happen in Tashkent? Was it the problem with your knee again?

- No, there was not, thank God, the injury did not hinder to fight in the final. The referees “helped”, who gave me the "shido ", I could understand why. They said it was for contraction. But I'm specifically this way, on the contrary, not to be punished. I do not know. They seem to know better. So, I gave a reason myself. As for the opponent from Israel I can say the following: despite the fact that she has small stature, and from this it became uncomfortable to deal with her, I had to win her. It’s extremely pity, to tears. There is just some bad luck with me! There are two big defeats in two licensed tournaments. Moreover, they happened during almost one week. It’s a nightmare!

- What did coach say after all this?

- He said I could win the gold, but missed my chance. Though, then he added that after all my misadventures with health to win two silver medals - more than a decent result. In short, I need a little break from fighting at least before the championship of Kazakhstan – author’s note), because, really, right now in terms of fitness I am in a deep "hole". Of course, I'm an optimist in life and very much hope that my new victory is around the corner, but it is the moment I'm just "featureless", I feel like a squeezed lemon.

- That means, the year was not easy...

- Oh, it was terribly difficult (smiles sadly). Even before the Grand-Prix I received three serious injuries that happened because of constant weight changing. I'm already over ten years fighting in the same weight class - 48 kg. I had very frequent departures; I had to decline my weight fifteen times a year. Calcium was washed out, bones became weakened. Originally, I planned to move in 52 kg, after the London Olympics even made the debut in this weight class at the championship of Kazakhstan in Taldykorgan. Once again, there I was the second one (smiles) lost with "huntey". Then, on the last day of the championship, the team competitions began, the same "wall to wall", and the region had persuaded me to take part in it. I was totally against it, stated that I was wildly tired. But finally gave in and agreed. It was I vain. On the "wall” I have received a very serious ankle injury. I had a strong ligament distortion and there was a small crack. I came home, I put a plaster, I was wearing it just one week of the three necessary ones, since I realized that the sessions was coming up, and I didn’t want to drop behind my opponents. Later, when I came out to the tatami, I normally felt myself, came into my usual state. However, two weeks before the World Cup in the Czech Republic, there happened a new disaster - at the training session, fighting with a boy, I broke a rib. That's a bad year at all! Next we went to the Czech Republic, doctor gave me an anesthetic (he injected directly into the rib – author’s note), and I went to fight with the Ukrainian in the first round. I led with her two "Yuks” and when I was throwing her from the knee, she caught my hand on painful hold. I suffered this pain, hoping that the referee would give me "mate". But this did not happen and a rival for forty seconds pulled the painful hold. When "mate” finally sounded, my hand became paralyzed. When I came home, it turned out that this marsupial calyx was broken. There was severe edema; I went to the surgeon who just “killed” me with his verdict: "If you do not accept serious action - you will lose your hand". I had treated it for three months; my first start after rehabilitation was the World Championship in Brazil. In the debut fight I fought against the Turkish and won, though, in the next match lost to the experienced Japanese Haruna Asami. When I was trying to throw her, she countered me with the same spurt.

- Yeah, this is not a year, this is one big tragedy. Frankly, in the most difficult moments have you ever been visited with the idea to finish your career at all?

- (Smiling) Now I haven’t, further - we'll see. If all these injuries will continue to haunt me, I do not see any reason to go out on the tatami. Let others to struggle. In any case, the next year will be decisive. In the meantime, before the Olympics 2016 I certainly intend to act.

- There is a lot of time before the Brazilian Olympics. Let's take the near future, 2014’Th year. What are your sport plans in the case of a full recovery?

- The most important competition for us next year - this is the Asian Games. Because they are, first, are carried out every four years, and secondly, are of fundamental importance for Kazakhstan as a member of the continent. Only after this the World Championship in Chelyabinsk is going to turn. Of course, despite all the injuries, I'm already setting myself up at these competitions only for gold. I cannot see this silver… (laughing)

- If talking immediately, which actual problem of women’s team can be called just now?

- We have a lack of sessions. We fight with each other on the sessions. And we do it only in classical grip. Furthermore we went to the competitions, the rivals use the upper grip against us, we get lost. This is a big minus.

- Did the Federation promise to change the situation?

- Yes, now we are planned to be send for a three-week session in Mongolia. It will be shared with the host team. After that, like, say, there will be more visits. On the other hand, our head coach pleased that this year, in fact, was "closed" because, after London, our team was strongly refreshed. Then, he says, to go somewhere to shame, let's better will stay in the shade. He did not want, in general, to take risks.

- In general, the Kazakh judo is now experiencing a wonderful time. There is the Academy building which costs a lot…

- I do believe that Judo has become one of the most progressive sports in our country. Look what kind of competition there is among boys. Never before it happened that in the weight class up to 60 kg there were so many contenders for a medal. Previously, only two judokas fought with each other in this weight - Bazarbek Donbay and Salamat Otarbaev. They did not allow anyone to pass. They fought only among themselves. Now there is Eldos Smetov, and after him the whole "team" - Aybek Imashev, Askhat Telmanov, Rustam Ibraev. All four of them were on the same podium at the recent Grand Prix in Almaty. This is just gorgeous! That's what makes with us a vivid competition. I gained myself because of it. Constantly we fought with each other with Kelbet Nurgazina. She is five times on the rope climb, I am six ones, and vice versa. She always tried to be better than me, I – than her. Coach told the same thing to both us: "You will not grow - she will fight." Therefore, if there is competition, there will be the result.

- Great Expectations the whole country imposes on Maxim Rakov. However, so far, of course, if we do not take into account his victory at the Grand Prix of Almaty, there are two major defeats in his collection - at the London Olympics and the World Championship in Brazil. All of you are communicating with each other; you know the secrets of each and the reasons for failure. What is it with Maxim, in your opinion?

- In spite of everything, Maxim is our leader. He is the champion (2009) and the World Championship silver medalist (2011), but he never has, and never will have the "star disease". Max communicates with all us on an equal footing. It is very rare. He is a very good guy. Why did he have defeats? It happened because he was psychologically crushed by everybody. He was told the same thing before London Olympics: "Maxim, you have to take the gold," "Maxim, you're bound to," "You're the first in the world rating." Can you imagine how hard it was? He, poor man, was looking for a corner, trying to hide from all this pressure. So, in the end, he burned out. Now, after the Olympics, he cannot pull himself. And injuries are purposely preventing it. However, I 'm sure Maxim will find a way and everything will be good. He is the strongest judoka. He is a golden man!

Aleksandra Podryadova. Kazakhstani judo national team. London Olympics participant.

The way at the world Grand-Prix in Almaty

- a victory over Ayzada Zhanalieva (Kyrgyzstan) – preliminary round

- a victory over Kristina Vrsich (Slovenia) – semifinal

- a defeat from Kristina Rumyantseva (Russia) - final

The way at the world judo Grand-Prix in Tashkent

- a victory over Kristina Kovaleva (Uzbekistan) – semifinal

- a defeat from Shira Rishoni (Israel) - final