JUDO
FEDERATION

This year, the national judo team of Kazakhstan is waiting for two major starts - the World Championship in Chelyabinsk (23-31 August) and the Asian Games in Incheon (18-28 September). In both competitions our coaching staff has high hopes for a several players. One of the brightest contenders for medals - Eldos Smetov, who without a shadow of doubt can be called super important part of Ermek Imambekov's constructure. Despite his young age, representative of Taraz judo school has huge international experience, a list of serious victories and he has the status of the hope of domestic judo in the world of tatami.

Eldos Smetov (60 kg). Kazakhstan national team of judo

Date of Birth: September 9, 1992

Place of birth: village Lugovoi, Zhambyl region

Coach: Ahmet Zhumagulov

Achievements: world youth champion (2010, Morocco), bronze medalist of World Youth Championship (2011, South Africa), bronze medalist of Grand Prix (2011, China), World Cup winner (2011, Uzbekistan), winner of the Open European Cup (2013, Poland), silver medalist of the Open European Cup (2013, Georgia), silver medalist of the Grand Prix (2013, Turkey), bronze medalist of Asian Championship (2013, Thailand), winner of the Grand Prix (2013, Almaty), club winner of the first international judo tournament in Kazakhstan (Astana, 2013) in the squad of «TAK Astana club». Participant of the World Championship in Brazil (2013). Master of Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. International Master of Sports.

Place in ranking: 8th (World ranking)

- Eldos, how was your start of the new year? Are you satisfied with everything?

- Recovered from injury, had a two months rest. First start for me was the Grand Prix in Dusseldorf. Finished fifth there as I only trained a week before the tournament. So, I think it is all right. This result was predictable. Now, of course, I feel much better, got a good performance, everything is going according to plan.

- Next week in Samsun, Turkey will start the next tournament in the series «Grand Prix». The coaching staff of the national team is waiting from you a medal and what do you expect from yourself?

- May be it sounds too loud but to be fair I trained enough to expect the first place in Turkey. For sure I'm not so good for Olympic gold (laughs), but will be the day - and the food is. I walk slowly towards this dream. Participating in these tournaments and having a big starts. I always concentrate myself on a winning.

- Who would you not like to meet in the Grand Prix?

- I would answer this way: I always have tough fights with japaneses. With other contenders it is always much easier for me. But this does not mean that I'm afraid. Not at all. The main enemy of any athlete is himself.

- World Cup in Chelyabinsk, the Asian Games in Incheon. Which start for you is the most important in this year?

- Definitely, the Asian Games. The main start of the four years for our entire continent. Little Olympics. It has its corresponding status - in the ranking it comes after the Olympics.

- Are you ready to perform well either in Russia and South Korea? Do you feel yourself strong enough?

- I do not decide it, our coaching staff does. If they think I must participate in either the «World» and «Asian games», I will participate in both. I am not changing my weight category and so I can participate anywhere.

- If you fail to win the gold Incheon, but you will still be standing on the podium, will it make you very upset?

- As I said, the Asian Games is a crazy start level, but I like the word «excellent». And for me it means only gold (laughs).