JUDO
FEDERATION

The one of the authoritative figures of the national sports was once a talented sambist before becoming a great coach. Now he is the head of the Specialized Regional Boarding School for sports talented children in native Taraz, successfully working over many years. Moreover, Manarbek Agaidarov is the President of Regional Judo, Sambo and Kazakh Kuresi Federation, he also works as the Vice-President of Regional Weightlifting, Free and Greco-Roman Style Wrestling Federation. This may be why the sports of the Confederation are well developed in province? Is there a true workaholic at the helm? A person with a capital letter!

- Mr. Manarbek, every person’s happiness in his own heads. Tell us, how you came to sports…

- My father brought me as a nation’s son from the childhood. In week-end, celebration days he always took me to all sports events held in Zhambyl (now – Taraz). Moreover, he bought me bayan, dombra, took to theatres and concerts. Now I believe, my parents wanted to excite interest for sports, art in me this way to help me choose how to spend my free time. When I was 12 my mother, consulting my father, has brought me to sambo section in «Dinamo» Sport Complex. This was my choice. This was how I came to big sports. Later, the sambo became my choice of life. At school I studied well, was an exemplary pupil.

- Who was your first coach?

- I would like to say that I was very lucky with my mentor, as I trained with the Merited Coach of the USSR and KazSSR Marat Zhakit. Through his worthy advices and education I succeeded on the carpet. We have absorbed his best qualities. I particularly learned for diligence and honesty. My coach has not only learned us to battle, but also helped to find our way in life. I am very thankful to Marat aga for everything.

- You told about your first successes… They must be still standing before your eyes…

- Certainly. No athlete ever forgets his first victory (smiles). That moment will remain in my heart for ever. For the first time, when I was 15, I became the winner of All-Union Sambo Tournament in Tashkent. The opponents were very strong, but I have reached the podium. That time, that tournament was recognized as the prestigious one, and the victory was estimated as a great success.

- Which medal is the most prestigious in your professional career?

- The medal of the KazSSR’s champion is the most worthy award for me, as that triumph has opened for me, the nineteen-year-old boy, the way to big victories. Later I won the championship of KazSSR five times.

- Nevertheless, you are satisfied with your career of sambist?

- To be honest, I am not entirely satisfied, because I could not win the Asian Games and the World Championship, the Olympic Games. These massive heights did not subdue to me, unfortunately…

- At what age did you decide to leave sambo and why?

- I have finished my sports career when I was twenty four. The reason was the surgery on left leg, without any opportunity to continue struggling. I should have to say goodbye to sambo. Exactly that period was the most offensive in my career. You eyes burn, there are huge goals and you are ready for great achievements… and suddenly you get a serious injury which puts an end to your dreams… It terribly hurts…

- No every athlete changes his way to the coaching work. It is difficult, nervous and sometimes thankless. But you chose that track…

- In the aftermath of events I have decided to become a coach. The goal was aimed immediately - to become the same one as my coach was – Marat aga, to help the students to reach the heights, which I have not reached myself. Everything I had, I wanted give to children.

- It must have been initially difficult to feel in new status?

- You were absolutely right telling about the difficulty of coaching work. I understood it when started to work with the children and prepare them for competitions. You don’t understand most of the things when you are an athlete yourself. It appeared that watching the decisive fights of your students was incredibly difficult. You are terribly worried! Moreover, the coach should not only teach to attempts he is also responsible for education and behavior of the student, he should help him instead of the training. Actually, it is not so easy to grow up even the one athlete. From the other side, training is interesting. You really enjoy your work.

- Tell us about the chronology of your coaching activity?

- In 1985 after graduation of the institute I have started to work in regional sports school. After the year I became the head coach of regional youth team. In province’s centre there was a boarding school for aul children, where I selected students and also started to train the children of my friends, who struggled together with me and were older for 5-10 years. I discovered love for sports and sambo. From 1993 to 1999 I worked as the head coach of the youth team of Kazakhstan.

- In such case, let us talk about more pleasing – the success of Manarbek Agaidarov’s students?

- Certainly, my students won on many big competitions. At the time of the USSR in 1986-1990 Baglan Ainakulov and Baurzhan Mussayev were the winners on All-Union Youth Games. In the years of Independency our success was brighter. Arman Tashmetov became the champion of Asia among youth, the silver medalist of the World Youth Championship. Two-times world champion among youth Almas Beissen is also my student. The world champion among young men and the silver winner of Adult Championship Didar Moldagaliyev, the winner of the World Championship among young men Azamat Tambiyev, the champions of Asia Nurbol Zhunusbekov and Miyat Mukhumov have honorably safeguarded the country’s flag.

- After such resounding success you moved for the leadership position…

- Indeed, in 2001 my coaching merits were noted and by the decision of regional akim Serik Umbetov I was appointed as the Director of the Regional Complex School of Olympic Reserve. In 2004 was opened the Regional Specialized Boarding School for sports talented children in Zhambyl Province where I was appointed as the director. To this day, I work in this position. For fourteen years I have been working as Sports schools director! Recently we celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the boarding school, in the honor of which we held the tournament of free wrestling among boarding schools. I can proudly say that our school is one of the best in Kazakhstan. This way we were estimated also by Heads of native sports.

- Tell us please about the most famous students of your boarding school?

- We have many talented athletes who protect the honor of the country in the World Arena. Among them the champion of Asia Meirzhan Ashirov, two-time silver medalist of Asian Championship Bakhtiyar Sultanbek, the silver medalist Ruslan Seksenbayev (all – freestyle wrestling). The silver medalist of European Cup and the World Grand Prix Yertugan Torenov, the bronze medalist of the Asian Championship Dauletkhan Zhakypov, three-time Kazakhstan champion and the bronze medalist of Asian Championship Zhenis Sailaubay are the graduates of our boarding school (all – judo). We confidently look to the future of the champion of Asia, the winner of the World Championship Zhanserik Sarsenbiyev, the champion of Asian Youth Championship Abunasyr Omirzakov (both – Greco-Roman Style Wrestling). Two-time bronze medalist of the World Boxing Championship Alua Balkibekova glorifies not only our school but also native Kazakhstan.

- Who of your students are now associated to Kazakhstan’s teams?

- Except the abovementioned Yertugan, Alua, Meirzhan, Zhanserik, Akerke Nauryzbayeva is the member of the national boxing team, the boxer Azamat Issakulov is also associated to the team. Orazali Yermekbayev is the member of Kazakhstan judo team.

- Are there the future stars of the native sports in your boarding school?

- Fortunately, the qualified staff prepares the best athletes in our school. However, I believe we should not demand high results from the young guys. We should smoothly take them to big sports. If we set the high aims, change the weight, during the passing to adults they could be broken psychologically. Nevertheless, we boast the talented guys. The Champions of Kazakhstan in boxing Nurbolat Kozhakhmet and Aidyn Batal, three-time champion of the country in freestyle wrestling Almas Zhumabayev, three-time Kazakhstan champion in taekwondo, the participant of WC Rabil Sagitzhanov, three-time winner of Kazakhstan Judo Championship, the silver medalist of European Cup Aida Karchayeva are the future of our sports. Apart from them we are pleased by success of judo competitor Akhmet Daulet, the wrestler of Greco-Roman Style Tolegen Kemalov, the boxers Yelmira Nurtai, Arailym Bekdilda, Mariyam Zharylkasyn and Zhazira Shazhirova. The good future is for the champion of Kazakhstan in weightlifting Sarimbek Bekarys.

- Tell us more about your school? How is made an activity, how many children is training? Are you satisfied with the infrastructure?

- The main goal of our boarding school is to give a qualitative education and upbringing, to prepare athletes, who are capable to win. Increasing the qualification of our teaching staff is not only to grow up great athletes, but also graduate the spiritual mind person who can reconcile a work with sports, who loves his homeland and glorifies it. As I have said, our school was opened in 2004. We have a hostel for 176 people, education corpus for 400 children, rehabilitation centre, and three gyms and playing fields. There are 24 coaches working. Apart from it, the boarding school has also educational, medical departments, centre of methodical work, library, museum and conference hall. In one word, there are all conditions for children, they have everything. Just study and train!

- How do you estimate the sports development in Zhambyl Province in common?

- Our land is reach by titled athletes. Yermakhan Ibraimov, Marat Mazimbayev, Bakhtiyar Artayev and many others, who reached the amazing achievements. Now there are such guys as the medalist of the Olympic Games 2012 Akzhurek Tanatorov, the winner of the «Kazakhstan Barysy» Beibit Ystybayev, the winner of the XVII Summer Asian Games Yeldos Smetov, the world champion Zhasulan Kydyrbayev. This indicates the right chosen course of sports development in region. Zhambyl Province totally implements the given goals – educates the human reserve for Kazakhstan team.

- Are you satisfied by the development of sambo and judo in the country?

- Certainly. Especially, I am pleased by dynamic development of Olympic sports – judo. Our athletes decently perform in the World Arena. Judo federation and Combat and strength sports confederation dedicated considerable effort for it. As result, the masters of tatami successfully perform in the World Grand-Prix, Asian Games. Sambists are also not ahead. I am very pleased with everything done in your country for sports development.

- The main discovery of the past World Weightlifting Championship was young Zhasulan Kydyrbayev, who was the student of Zhambyl Weightlifting School.

- Zhasulan studied in Republican Sports Boarding School for sports talented children. He is born in Talgar district of Almaty Province, the student of Zhambyl weightlifting school. He prepared in Centre of Olympic preparation of province, and then in School of high sports skill, became two-time champion of Asia among youth, took bronze in World youth championship. The last three-four years I monitor his training. And I understood a long time ago that even if you are incredibly talented, but lazy – there will be no result. The most quality of Zhasulan is his diligence and, of course, his talent. I am amazed with his diligence. And taking this opportunity, I would like to wish to our young athletes Zhasulan Kydyrbayev, Yeldos Smetov and Dauletkhan Zhakypov success and victory!

- What are your plans for the next year?

- As we work in the sports field, we shall continue working by plan and achieving our goals

- Do you have some hobbies?

- At free time I play football, I like hunting. Read books and attach time to business.

- In the end of the dialogue tell us about your family…

- My mother’s name is Orynkul. Sister – Shuga, younger brother – Meirambek. Sons – Galymbek, Kaisar, daughters – Aizhan and Lyailya. I have a big family! (smiles).