Kazakhstan’s Seven-Gold Statement in Lausanne

Kazakhstan delivered the defining performance at the Ecole Mont-Olivet Deaf Judo Masters Top 18 in Lausanne, taking seven of the 12 gold medals on offer. The event at Vaudoise Arena brought deaf judoka and medallists from several continents together for a high-level international competition.

The Kazakh team was particularly strong across the men’s middleweight divisions. Gulama Khamze won -66 kg, followed by Shadiyar Kuandyk at -73 kg, Yerkebulan Kanafin at -81 kg and Aidos Tugelbayev at -90 kg. Their run gave Kazakhstan a commanding presence through a major section of the men’s programme.

Kazakhstan’s success continued in the women’s categories. Feride Kara Ogly claimed gold at -52 kg, Evelina Yegemberdiyeva topped the -63 kg division and Anna Kramorova won -78 kg. Aiym Zhetpisbayeva also reached the -48 kg final, while Altynbek Kakitayev and Sabirzhan Khapizov added men’s bronze and silver medals respectively.

Kazakhstan claimed seven of the 12 available gold medals in Lausanne.

The podiums also reflected the global depth of deaf judo. Azerbaijan’s Cosghun Aliyev opened the men’s competition with victory at -60 kg. Pedro Felipe Luis dos Santos Dantas of Brazil reached the top of the podium, while Amadou Meite secured the +100 kg title for France.

European athletes featured prominently beyond Kazakhstan’s gold-medal haul. Portugal’s Joana Santos won the women’s -57 kg category, and France added gold through Meite as well as bronze medals from Thomas Estelle at -73 kg and Raphael Ourednik at -81 kg. Hungary’s Patrik Otvos took bronze at -81 kg, while Martin Filakovity earned silver at -90 kg.

For the host nation, Jonas Jenzer gave Switzerland a home bronze medal in the -66 kg category. Other women’s winners included Mexico’s Maria Isabel Huitron Angeles at -48 kg and Argentina’s Valentina Antonella Bonfanti at -70 kg.

Lausanne showed the broad international reach of deaf judo, with athletes from Europe, Asia and the Americas competing in the same arena used for World Judo Tour and adapted judo events. The medal table belonged to Kazakhstan, but the competition’s wider message came from the number of nations represented on the tatami.

Lausanne brought deaf judoka from multiple continents onto one international stage.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation