As GDN Media’s series of articles featuring Bahrain’s Paris 2024 athletes continues, we spoke with Askerbii Gerbekov, who will be making history as the kingdom’s first-ever Olympian in men’s judo
JUDO – ASKERBII Gerbekov is fully focused on achieving one goal at Paris 2024 – to win a medal for Bahrain in the kingdom’s first-ever participation at any Olympic Games in the exciting combat sport of judo.
Gerbekov is one of 10 athletes from around the world to have qualified for the men’s half-middleweight (81kg) judo competition via continental quota.
He is the lone Asian representative from those judokas, and will be looking to make the most of this historic opportunity, defy the odds, and climb on the podium.
“That is my only goal – to get a medal,” Gerbekov told the GDN in an exclusive interview. “Bahrain has never won a medal in the Olympics in judo. I want to do this, to take a medal.”
Gerbekov needed to overcome a long, arduous road to earn his spot at the French capital – an accomplishment that, in itself, is already worthy of tremendous praise, says his coach and former Bahrain international judoka Khaled Al Araifi.
“Askerbii works so hard and has given his all to make it to the Olympics,” said Al Araifi. “It has taken him three years doing competitions and gaining points to qualify.
“He did around 30 competitions in those three years – this is too much for any athlete, especially Askerbii, who did a lot of cutting weight. It was not easy to handle, but we are finally at the Olympics, and we are very happy – the first time in the history of Bahrain. He really deserves to be going to Paris.”
Twenty-eight-year-old Gerbekov is an experienced competitor at the highest level of the martial art. He has won medals in International Judo Federation grand slams and grands prix, and is well aware of the quality of opposition he will be facing at the French capital. But he remains unfazed.
“I think the level will be very high, like in a grand slam or a grand prix, but there will be many of the same guys from those competitions in the Olympics, and every match will be very strong and not easy,” said Gerbekov, who has won multiple medals for Bahrain, including gold, at the global, Asian, Arab, and Gulf levels. “My only strategy is to win.”
Having already undergone endless hours of physical preparation, Gerbekov believes what is most important at this stage is to get mentally ready for the Olympic challenge that is fast-approaching.
“I have been training two times a day, and every month I have had a training camp,” he explained. “Olympic qualification is very hard; I needed to go to many competitions, fight good, and get plenty of points, and now, I think it is all about the mentality.
“Now, what is important is a little bit of training, and mostly preparation for mentality.”
Gerbekov’s love for judo began as a teen after being introduced to the sport by an elder brother, and his passion continues to be fuelled by the support he receives from his loved ones.
“I started judo maybe 16 years ago; I went with my big brother to train and I liked it, and since then I have had more than 10 years now of very hard training and competition,” Gerbekov recalls. “Every time I get a medal, my family and my friends are all very happy; so after I win a medal, I feel good.”
Al Araifi is confident that Gerbekov can make his mark at the Olympics, and is upbeat about the kingdom’s maiden participation, which he says is only the beginning of an even brighter future for Bahrain judo.
“Askerbii is one of the best athletes we ever had in Bahrain,” he said. “One hundred per cent he is going to have very difficult matches, but as long as we are there, we should fight for a medal.
“It is a great thing that we are now going to the Olympics – it will give us more push, more support for this amazing martial art. I think we’re going to have in the future a very strong base to compete at a high level, and make sure that we are always qualified for the Olympics.”
When Al Araifi competed for Bahrain in his youth, he had a life-long dream of one day flying the kingdom’s flag at an Olympic Games. He will now have that chance to enjoy the experience as a coach, and will be right by Gerbekov’s side when he hits the mat.
“I was in judo since I was six years old and I represented my country for many years, winning medals in the GCC and Asian levels,” said Al Araifi. “In 2014, I became a coach and it was a very hard decision because I knew that it is not an easy job.
“I had to stop competing because I had a lot of injuries, but I was the only Bahraini judoka at the time, and to keep judo going, I decided to coach and help build athletes at all levels, to go to competitions, win medals, and make new history for Bahrain.”
Gerbekov and Al Araifi will be doing just that at Paris 2024.
Aside from judo, Gerbekov is also a world-class practitioner in the combat sport of sambo, in which he has also won multiple medals at the highest levels.
Judo is one of two sports that Bahrain will be taking part in for the first time at the Olympics. Weightlifting is the other. The kingdom’s leading sportsmen and women will also be vying for medals in athletics, swimming, and wrestling.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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