Kazakhstan's Almat Wins Weightlifting Gold
Kazakhstan's Adilet Almat captured the men's 81kg gold medal at the Grand Prix Upper Austria, highlighting his continued rise in international weightlifting. This victory adds to Kazakhstan's strong legacy in the sport and positions Almat as a key competitor heading into major 2026 competitions.
Adilet Almat's victory at the Grand Prix Upper Austria was his first-ever appearance in a World Judo Tour final block, making his gold medal win a significant milestone in his senior career. He secured the win against Vusal Galandarzade of Azerbaijan, who was the 2025 Lima Grand Prix winner. The 21-year-old Kazakh judoka won the final by executing a swift sumi-gaeshi for a waza-ari and then transitioning directly into a hold-down. This decisive sequence capped a day of upsets in the -81kg category, where the top four seeds had been eliminated earlier in the competition. This win is a significant achievement for the young athlete, who has previously competed in junior-level events, including the Almaty Asian Junior Cup in 2024. His performance in Linz demonstrates a successful transition to the senior international circuit. Kazakhstan has a strong tradition in combat sports, and this victory adds to its legacy. The country's judokas and weightlifters have consistently performed well in international competitions. The development of the sport in the country is supported by a national federation that oversees thousands of registered athletes. Looking ahead, the international judo calendar for 2026 includes several major events that will be crucial for athletes like Almat. These include the Asian Championships in India and the IWF World Championships in China, providing more opportunities for him to solidify his position on the world stage.
