The 2025 Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam kicked off with a vibrant display of judo talent and local artistry, held at the prestigious Martial Arts Palace in Kazakhstan. This highly anticipated event, which marks the beginning of a thrilling judo competition, featured an exciting opening ceremony attended by notable dignitaries, including the President of the International Judo Federation, Mr. Marius Vizer, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr. Yermek Kosherbayev, and President of the Kazakhstan Judo Federation, Mr. Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev.
Day filled with thrilling matches
Fans packed the arena, eager to witness a day filled with exhilarating matches. The competition began with the -48kg category, where Junior World Champion Xinran Hui dazzled spectators with her extraordinary groundwork, ultimately forcing her opponent to submit and securing the gold medal for China.
Medals were presented by IJF President Mr. Marius Vizer, while the prize money was awarded by Mr. Shukhrat IBRAGIMOV, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ERG.
In the -60kg category, local favorite Talgat Orynabassar faced off against Iznaur Saaev, who executed a breathtaking ko-uchi attack to clinch victory. The medals for this thrilling match were awarded by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Yermek Kosherbayev.
Exciting finals and home nation success
Another standout moment came in the -52kg final, where Germany’s Mascha Ballhaus battled Spain’s Ayumi Leiva Sanchez. As the match progressed into golden score, Ballhaus showcased her tactical prowess, switching from her signature uchi-mata to o-uchi-gari, scoring a Yuko and marking Germany’s first gold of the tournament. The medals were graciously presented by IJF General Treasurer Mr. Naser Al Tamimi.
The excitement continued in the -66kg final, featuring a brilliantly timed footsweep from four-time Grand Slam champion Ramazan Abdulaev, who triumphed over Kazakhstan’s Gusman Kyrgyzbayev. Medals for this closely contested match were awarded by Mr. Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, President of the Kazakhstan Judo Federation.
In the fiercely contested -57kg final, France’s Faiza Mokdar faced Japan’s Momo Tamaoki in a high-energy bout. Mokdar emerged victorious, executing a well-timed seoi-otoshi to earn the gold medal, which was presented by Harvest Group CEO Mr. Almaz Alsenov.
The day not only highlighted individual brilliance but also celebrated the home nation, which saw both Magzhan Shamshadin and Aman Bakytzhan clinching bronze medals in the -60kg category. The atmosphere remained electric throughout the day, with fans on their feet, cheering for the outstanding performances that defined this memorable opening day of judo.