Kyrgyzstan is a small Central Asian country with a population of 6 million people, but it has made a name for itself in the world of judo. The country has produced some of the best judo players in the world, who have won medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships.
The most successful of them are Azamat Kanybekov, Aisuluu Tynybekova, and Zholman Kydyrbekov. In this article, we will take a look at their inspiring stories and outstanding achievements.
1. Otar Bestaev
Otar Bestaev is an impressive athlete who has achieved international recognition. He is a judoka, a martial artist who practices the Japanese martial art of judo, and is a native of both Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
Bestaev was selected to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as part of the men’s 60 kg (132 lb) category. Unfortunately, he was unable to progress past the second bout and was eliminated from the competition.
Despite this, Bestaev has shown he is a world-class judoka and a great representative for his two countries. His strong performance in the Olympics speaks to his dedication to his sport and his commitment to excel on the international stage.
2. Vladimir Zoloev
Vladimir Zoloev is a Kyrgyzstani judoka who has achieved success at multiple levels of competition. He has competed in the -81 kg category at the 2018 Asian Games, as well as in the Asian Judo Championships.
At the 2018 Asian Games, Zoloev performed exceptionally well, earning a bronze medal in the -81 kg category. Additionally, he has earned multiple medals at the Asian Judo Championships, including gold in 2017.
Zoloev’s success is a reflection of his hard work and dedication to the sport of judo. He has consistently trained and worked to refine his skills, and this has paid off in his impressive results.
His accomplishments are a source of pride for his home country of Kyrgyzstan and have earned him recognition on the international stage. In addition to his competitive success, Zoloev is also a judo instructor and has been teaching the sport in Kyrgyzstan for many years.
His expertise and knowledge of the sport have made him a valuable asset to the judo community in Kyrgyzstan. Overall, Vladimir Zoloev is an exemplary judoka who has achieved great success on the competitive stage, as well as in the classroom.
His dedication to the sport of judo has earned him respect and admiration from fans and peers alike.
3. Artur Te
Artur Te is a renowned Kyrgyzstani judoka who has been competing at the World Judo Championships for the past three years. He has been making a name for himself in the sport since 2017.
In 2018, he achieved a great feat by winning a bronze medal in the men’s 66 kg event at the Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia. This is a testament to his talent and hard work.
He has been training rigorously to continue climbing the ladder in the judo world and is a great inspiration to many aspiring judokas. He is an example of what dedication and perseverance can achieve.
4. Valentina Shevchenko
Valentina Anatolievna Shevchenko is an accomplished athlete who has achieved success in two different martial arts. She is a professional mixed martial artist from Kyrgyzstan and Peru and a former Muay Thai fighter.
She currently fights in the women’s Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the former UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion. She is considered one of the most dominant fighters in the division and has a record of twenty wins and three losses.
She has also proven to be a versatile fighter by successfully competing in different weight classes. Shevchenko has a long history in martial arts.
She began training in Muay Thai at the age of twelve, and by the time she was sixteen, she had already won the World Muay Thai Championship four times. She then moved on to mixed martial arts, where she has continued to excel.
She has competed in several different promotions, winning the Kunlun Fight Women’s Flyweight Championship and the WBC Muay Thai World Super Bantamweight Championship. Valentina Shevchenko has proven to be an elite fighter, with her impressive record and dominant performances in the octagon.
Her physicality, technique, and mental toughness have enabled her to become one of the most successful fighters in the UFC. She will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the Flyweight division for years to come.
5. Erkin Ibragimov
Erkin Mukhtarovich Ibragimov is a Kyrgyz judoka who competed in the men’s half-middleweight category. He is a highly accomplished athlete who has achieved success in various international tournaments.
In 2002, he placed fifth in the 81-kg division at the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
His performance at the tournament earned him the respect of his peers and the admiration of his country. In 2004, Ibragimov had the honor of representing Kyrgyzstan at the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Although he did not place in the tournament, his presence represented a great moment in Kyrgyzstan’s history, as it was the first time that the country had ever sent an athlete to compete in the Olympics.
Ibragimov’s commitment to his sport and his country is an admirable example for aspiring judokas. He has shown that hard work, dedication, and determination can lead to great success, even at the highest level of competition.
His accomplishments are sure to inspire future generations of judokas from Kyrgyzstan.
6. Aidyn Smagulov
Aidyn Smagulov is a highly accomplished judoka, who is from both Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. In 1996, he won the Kazakhstan championship, which set him up to perform at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
At the Olympics, Smagulov competed in the men’s extra lightweight category and earned a bronze medal alongside Manolo Poulot from Cuba. This achievement made Smagulov the first Olympic medalist to represent Kyrgyzstan in the nation’s history, a momentous and momentous occasion.
This accomplishment is a testament to Smagulov’s hard work and dedication, and his success serves as an inspiration to other athletes to strive to achieve greatness.
7. Olga Artamonova
Olga Artamonova is a former judoka from Kyrgyzstan. She was a highly successful judoka, competing in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Her performance in the tournament was impressive, as she finished in 9th place in the 63 kg weight class for women.
This was a great achievement for her, considering the level of competition in the Olympics. She was a dedicated judoka and trained hard in order to make it to the Olympics.
During the competition, she showed her skill and determination, demonstrating why she deserved a spot in the competition.
She faced tough opponents but managed to make it to the top 10. Her success in the Olympics has inspired many judokas from Kyrgyzstan, and she is considered a role model for female judokas in the country.
She has shown that hard work and dedication can lead to great success, even at the highest level of competition. Her story is a testament to the power of determination and passion for the sport.
8. Iurii Krakovetskii
Iurii Krakovetskii is a Kyrgyzstani judoka who represented his country in the 2012 Summer Olympics. He competed in the 100 kg judo event, which is the heaviest weight class in judo.
Krakovetskii’s participation at the 2012 Olympics was a great achievement for him and his country, as it is a very difficult task to qualify for the Olympics in judo, particularly in a heavyweight class.
He is considered to be one of the most successful Kyrgyzstani judokas, having achieved a great deal of success in international competitions.
His Olympic performance is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport, and he is an inspiration to many aspiring judokas in Kyrgyzstan.
9. Chingiz Mamedov
Chingiz Mamedov is a judoka from Kyrgyzstan who competes in the 90 kg weight class. He achieved a notable honor in 2012 when he was chosen to be the flag bearer at the Summer Olympics. His skill in the sport is evident from his three Kyrgyz National Championships.
His success has helped to bring recognition to Kyrgyzstan in the international judo scene. Mamedov began his judo career at an early age, taking part in local tournaments and building a reputation for himself. He eventually rose to the highest level of competition, the Olympics.
It is a testament to his skill and dedication that he was selected to be the flag bearer for the Kyrgyzstan team at the 2012 Olympics. Mamedov’s accomplishments have been recognized in his home country, where he has become a symbol of pride for the Kyrgyzstani people.
He has been named Kyrgyz National Champion three times, an impressive feat in a sport that is highly competitive. His success has made him an inspiration to aspiring athletes in Kyrgyzstan, motivating them to pursue their dreams.
Chingiz Mamedov is a talented judoka who has achieved great success both in his home country and on the international stage.
His dedication and skill have earned him the admiration of the Kyrgyzstani people, and his accomplishments have served as an example of what can be achieved with hard work and determination.
10. Vadim Sergeyev
Vadim Yuryevich Sergeyev is an accomplished athlete from Kyrgyzstan. He is a former judoka, a type of combat sport that involves throws and grappling techniques. Vadim had the honor of competing in two Summer Olympic Games.
He first represented Kyrgyzstan at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, followed by the 2000 Summer Olympics which were held in Sydney, Australia. Through his hard work and dedication, Vadim was able to make it to the Olympics twice.
His accomplishments have made him an inspiration to many athletes in Kyrgyzstan and around the world. Vadim continues to be an example of ambition, discipline, and success.
11. Sagdat Sadykov
Sagdat Kabirovich Sadykov is a highly accomplished Kazakh judoka. He has had an illustrious career that has spanned a number of years and he has picked up five medals in total throughout his judo career.
These medals include a silver from the 2004 Asian Judo Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan. This was a particularly impressive feat as it was the first-ever judo championship to be held in his home country and was a great source of pride for him.
In addition to his silver medal from the 2004 Asian Judo Championships, Sadykov also picked up a bronze medal from the 2008 Asian Judo Championships in Jeju, South Korea. This was followed by a bronze medal at the 2009 Asian Judo Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
These two medals were instrumental in helping him qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he went on to win a silver medal. Sadykov’s fifth and final medal came from the 2013 Asian Judo Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
This was a gold medal and was a fitting way to end his judo career. He is now retired from the sport and is considered one of the most successful judokas from Kazakhstan. He is seen as an inspiration to many aspiring judokas and is a true sporting legend in his home country.
12. Talant Dzhanagulov
Talant Rysbekovich Dzhanagulov is an accomplished Kyrgyzstani judoka. He has competed in the super heavyweight division of judo and is well-known for his achievements in this sport.
In recognition of his accomplishments, he was chosen to be the flag bearer for Kyrgyzstan at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
This was an incredible honor and a testament to the hard work and dedication that Dzhanagulov has put into his judo career. Dzhanagulov has had a great deal of success in judo.
He has achieved many victories over the years and has become a highly respected athlete in his native Kyrgyzstan.
He is a role model for others in the country, and his success has inspired many people to pursue their dreams in judo. Dzhanagulov’s accomplishments in judo are a testament to his hard work and dedication.
He has put in many hours of training and practice to reach the level of success he has.
His determination and commitment to the sport have helped him achieve great things in the world of judo. Dzhanagulov’s selection as the flag bearer for Kyrgyzstan at the 2008 Summer Olympics was a great honor.
It was a recognition of all of his hard work and dedication to the sport of judo, and a way to show the world that Kyrgyzstan is a nation of excellence in the sport.
Dzhanagulov’s selection was a source of pride for the people of Kyrgyzstan and a symbol of hope for all those who aspire to achieve greatness in judo.
Conclusion
The best judo players in Kyrgyzstan have achieved great success in international competitions and have brought honor to their country. They have demonstrated their physical and mental strength and their passion for the sport.
Their hard work and determination have earned them a great deal of respect and admiration from the judo community around the world. Kyrgyzstan can be proud of their best judo players and their contributions to the sport.
