Yeldos Smetov wins silver at 2026 Asian Games
Kazakh judoka Yeldos Smetov became vice-champion of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, losing the final to Japan's Hayato Kondo.
Yulduz Salimov1 min read
Kazakh judoka Yeldos Smetov, competing in the under-60 kg weight category, became vice-champion of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. In the final, the 2024 Olympic champion was defeated by host nation athlete Hayato Kondo of Japan.
For Smetov, this is the second Asian Games silver of his career: in 2014 he became Asian Games champion in Incheon. His record also includes silver and bronze at the Olympic Games (2016, 2020), gold at the 2015 World Championships and gold at the 2016 Asian Championships.
Earlier, Abiba Abuzhakynova became a two-time Asian Games vice-champion. Gusman Kyrgyzbayev and Meruyert Sarsenova will also compete for bronze medals at the 2026 Games on 30 September.
The XX Asian Games in Japan officially opened on 19 September. Athletes from 45 countries are competing for 460 sets of medals. Kazakhstan's national team at the 2026 Asian Games comprises 558 athletes in 35 sports.
Source: kz.kursiv.media
