JUDO
FEDERATION

The national judo team of Kazakhstan had a training camp organized in one of the most beautiful parts of our country – Borovoe resort area. The athletes of the team that soon will take part in the World Championship were among them. Maksim Rakov, Sergey Lim and other members of the team don’t give interviews before the World Championship. This is a kind of superstitious belief for sportsmen in all kinds of sport. However, our correspondent managed to talk to our future champions training together with the judo “stars”.

Yeldos Zhumakhanov became the world champion among military men in the category 66 kg when he was 23. To the point, that championship was held in Astana on Jul 1-5 this year. Besides, Yeldos won a bronze medal at the Asian Championship. We believe there will be many more medals in Yeldos’s collection in future.

For how long have you been in judo?

I became a member of the men’s team recently. I started wrestling when I was 10 in “Temirtau” sports complex, Almaty. To be honest, I didn’t plan to go in for judo. I started training together with my classmates and I liked it. We were 10 at the beginning, but I was the only one who did not quit it.

Who are you obliged for your achievements?

I managed to win all the medals that I have now thanks to our trainers only. I’ve been practicing together with the national team for many years and I always get good advice.

What are your plans for the future?

I like judo very much. I am now at the very beginning of my professional career in sport. It is my life and my main goal. The main plan for me as for any athlete is the Olympic Games. I will miss the World Championship this year as long as I just started training on the national team and I am not ready yet. I still have three world championships before the Olympic Games, it is plenty of time. The main thing for me is to perform well over the next two years, score points and qualify.

How does judo develop in Kazakhstan in your opinion?

Results get better year by year. We had four medals at the Asian Championship this year compared to only two last year. Our national team wins medals at all tournaments. I believe our athletes will do their best at the World Championship, we all root for them and wish them good luck. Meanwhile, we are preparing for the Grand Prix that will be held in Almaty in September.