Kazakhstan Falls Short on First Day of Judo Grand Slam in Mongolia

Kazakhstan’s national judo team has ended the opening day of the Judo Grand Slam in Mongolia’s capital without a podium finish, as medal hopes slipped away in the final round.

The country’s top performer on Day 1, Bauyrzhan Narbayev, reached the bronze medal match in the men’s under 66kg division, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.

Facing tough local contender Battogtokh Erkhembayar, Narbayev fought valiantly but ultimately came up short, narrowly missing out on a medal.

With no other Kazakh judokas advancing to medal bouts on the first day, the team will look to rebound in the coming days of the prestigious tournament.

The Judo Grand Slam in Ulaanbaatar is part of the International Judo Federation's elite circuit and serves as a crucial stepping stone toward international rankings and Olympic qualification.