Kazakh athletes who won medals at the U17 World Championships in Baku were honoured at the Kazakh National University of Sport. The young wrestlers received awards from Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerbol Myrzabosynov and Chairman of the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation Yerkin Okassov, who congratulated them on their achievements at the world championships.
The competition in Baku ended on a high note for Team Kazakhstan. Competing in Greco-Roman, freestyle and women’s wrestling, the country’s young athletes won 2 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals. With a combined total of 225 points across the three wrestling styles, Kazakhstan finished among the world’s top five teams, ranked third in Asia and achieved the best result among Central Asian nations.
During the meeting, the Minister congratulated the athletes and the coaches who had prepared them for the championships, noting that the experience gained in Baku would be valuable ahead of future major international competitions.
“Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your outstanding victories. Your achievements are a source of pride for our entire country. I would also like to express my special gratitude to the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation. Thanks to the coordinated work of the Federation and the coaching staff, as well as the high standard of organisation, our athletes were able to achieve excellent results. This is the outcome of many years of preparation and dedicated hard work,” Yerbol Myrzabosynov said.
Chairman of the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation Yerkin Okassov then addressed the athletes, describing the U17 national team’s performance in Baku as the result of systematic and consistent work.
“Today is a joyful and important day for all of us. We have brought together the young wrestlers who represented our country with honour at the U17 World Championships in Baku to recognise their hard work and achievements. Meetings like this give young athletes additional motivation. They understand that their victories do not go unnoticed and that they can always count on support from the state. Today’s U17 athletes will become members of our U20 and senior national teams tomorrow. That is why it is important to ensure their continued and systematic development from this stage onward,” Yerkin Okassov said.
Diyar Amanali (55 kg) and Bakdaulet Agabek (48 kg) became world champions. Ali Almas (48 kg) and Aisha Abdimalk (65 kg) claimed silver medals, while Alinur Toleugali (71 kg), Inzhu Bakkhozha (46 kg), Mardan Orynbasar (60 kg) and Adilet Rysbai (71 kg) won bronze. Among Kazakhstan’s eight medals, Bakdaulet Agabek’s victory was particularly significant for the country’s freestyle wrestling programme. Kazakhstan had not won a U17 World Championship gold medal in freestyle wrestling since 2022. Agabek therefore ended a four-year wait and returned Kazakhstan to the top of the U17 World Championships podium in freestyle wrestling.
The ceremony continued with the official presentation of awards to the world championship winners and medallists. Eight wrestlers who achieved outstanding sporting results received Letters of Appreciation from the Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as certificates for cash bonuses from the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation. World champions Diyar Amanali and Bakdaulet Agabek were awarded KZT 2 million each, silver medallists Ali Almas and Aisha Abdimalk received KZT 1.5 million each, while bronze medallists Alinur Toleugali, Mardan Orynbasar, Adilet Rysbai and Inzhu Bakkhozha received KZT 1 million each. In addition, Chairman of the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation Yerkin Okassov announced that he would personally award an additional KZT 3 million each to world champions Diyar Amanali and Bakdaulet Agabek.
The contribution of the coaching staff was also recognised during the ceremony. Zhasulan Mukhtarbekuly, head coach of Kazakhstan’s U17 freestyle wrestling team, was awarded the “Honoured Sports Worker” badge, while Askhat Zhanbyrov, head coach of Kazakhstan’s U17 Greco-Roman wrestling team, received the badge “For Contribution to the Development of Physical Culture and Sports.”
In addition, Zamanbek Khamitov, Dauren Kegenbayev, Ruslan Itemgenov, Pernebek Belasar, Murat Amirov, Timur Urkimbayev, Yerkebulan Keshubayev and Daulet Nurgozha received Certificates of Honour from the Minister in recognition of their contribution to preparing national team athletes for international competitions.
