On the opening day of the IBSA World Games, Kazakhstani para judokas secured a remarkable haul of four medals, QazMonitor reports citing the Minister of Culture and Sports' Telegram channel.
The athletes secured one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals at the IBSA World Games.
Para judoka Akmaral Nauatbek, competing in the J2 class in the 48 kg category, clinched the gold medal. In the final bout, Akmaral defeated Ukraine's Yuliia Ivanytska with a takedown, bringing home the gold medal for the country. Kazakhstan's Yergali Shamei won the silver medal in the J1 class in the under 73kg category.
A pair of judokas, Anuar Sariyev (J2, 60kg) and Olzhas Orazalyuly (J2, 73kg), secured bronze medals for the country. Sariev faced South Korea’s Lee Min in the bronze medal bout and emerged victorious with an ippon. Similarly, Orazalyuli defeated Ukrainian Rufat Mahomedov.
The IBSA World Games, held in Birmingham from August 20 to 27, represent the second most important sporting event for athletes with visual impairments, following the Paralympic Games. Notably, this year, the results of the IBSA World Games were considered equivalent to the World Championships. Consequently, Kazakh athlete Akmaral Nauatbek has earned the title of World Parajudo Champion for the second year in a row.