Ermaganbet Bulekpayev congratulated Karaganda athletes, champions and prize–winners of Asia and the world

The akimat of the region honored athletes and their coaches who achieved high results at the Asian Boxing and World Weightlifting championships. They were awarded prizes by the akim of the Karaganda region.

Karaganda residents showed excellent results at the Asian Boxing Championship, which was held in Thailand. Milana Safronova, a native of Saran, won the first bronze medal.

Aida Abikeeva had no equal in weight up to 63 kilograms. She won the gold medal.

The final fight between Abylaikhan Zhusupov from Karaganda and Khavasbek Asadullaev from Uzbekistan turned out to be scandalous.

First, the Karaganda boxer was awarded silver. The Kazakhstan Boxing Federation has protested this decision to the IBA and ASBC organizations.

As a result, the Uzbek boxer was suspended from the competition for a gross violation, and Abylaikhan Zhusupov was recognized as the champion of Asia.

Artem Antropov won the gold medal at the World Weightlifting Championships, winning in the category up to 102 kg. His total weight loss was 400 kg (170 kg in the snatch and 230 kg in the clean and jerk). This triumph is especially important for the 24-year-old athlete because he returned to the international stage after a 16-month suspension due to a dubious doping scandal. He deprived Antropov of the opportunity to compete at the Olympics in Paris.

– I was disqualified, but I continued to train and believed that I would prove my innocence. The rivals were strong at the World Cup, and the winner of the Olympic Games came second. I am glad and proud that I managed to return to the sport and win. I became the first world weightlifting champion from Karaganda. Now my main goal is Olympic gold," says the 24-year-old athlete.

The athlete is coached by Ivan Snegurov.

The head of the region, Ermaganbet Bulekpayev, congratulated the athletes and coaches on their successful performance, noting their steadfastness, perseverance and incredible will to win.

– We are doing a lot to develop sports infrastructure in order to involve as many Karaganda residents in sports as possible and provide our athletes with the necessary conditions to prepare for international competitions, – said the governor of the region. – And, of course, we expect high results from the pupils of the region's sports schools.