KURASH – Uzbekistan won the first gold medals of the third Asian Youth Games in Bahrain yesterday in kurash.
The traditional combat sport held its opening competitions at Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) in two categories, including the girls’ under-70kg and the boys’ under-65kg.
Durdona Tursunova claimed the girls’ gold medal while Otabek Yuldashboev took the boys’ crown to give the Uzbek delegation the first titles of this mega multi-sport meeting.
Tursunova secured her gold after winning her division final by khalol against Saniet Talaibekova from Kyrgyzstan.
Earlier, in the semi-finals, Tursunova triumphed by yonbosh over Khushi from India, while in the quarter-finals, she beat Bilbil Mergenova from Turkmenistan by dakki.
The girls’ under-70kg bronze medals were shared by Khushi and Mahsa Barzegar from Iran.
Classified tied-fifth and completing the line-up of participants were Mergenova and Syrine Mae Bacani from the Philippines.
On the distaff, Yuldashboev won by chala against Yousef Baghchighi from Iran in their final.
Yuldashboev needed to take three other contests yesterday en route to securing his gold medal.
In the semis, he beat Abubakr Turaev from Tajikistan, also by chala, while in the quarters, he overcame Chen-te Chih from Chinese Taipei by yonbosh.
Yuldashboev kicked off his medal bid with a win by khalol against Fabian Firmansyah from Indonesia in the round of 16.
Sharing the bronze medals in their weight class were Turaev and Mohammad Mohammadi from Afghanistan.
A total of 13 boys competed in the under-65kg division, including Bahrain’s Hasan Allaith, who bowed out from further contention in the round of 16.
He lost by khalol to Vaibhav Ohri from India.
Allaith was the only Bahraini competitor in the kurash competition at this year’s Asian Youth Games.
The other boys’ participants yesterday were Muhammet Annayarov from Turkmenistan, Abaz Toktogonov from Kyrgyzstan, Kumpapan Sabrum from Thailand, Baqer Al Zaidi from Iraq, and Elijah Mendoza from the Philippines.
Following yesterday’s action, the kingdom’s Chef de Mission and Bahrain Olympic Committee executive director of operations Ahmed Abdulghaffar was on hand to present the medals to the winners.
Kurash in this year’s Asian Youth Games conclude today at EWB hall two.
The contests are scheduled to begin at 2pm, and athletes will be going for gold in the girls’ under-52kg division and the boys’ under-83kg class.
The medals in kurash were the only ones up for the taking yesterday on the first day of battles in the kingdom.
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