Sydney Olympic Champion, the famous boxing expert Yermakhan Ibraimov doesn't miss significant boxing events. He is monitoring both young fighters who are going to succeed and experienced boxers.
- Of course, the National Team will be different without Daniyar Yeleussinov who passed into professional boxing - said Yermakhan Ibraimov. - There are young boxers like Abylaikhan Zhussupov and Sadriddin Akhmedov and other boxers who were on the second or third roles earlier in the team. Now we see new names in the National Team. Many of them brightly showed their worth at the Kazakhstan National Boxing Championships in Pavlodar. The tournament which took place in November left the most favorable impressions. Everything at that tournament was on the high level.
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- What do you think about new captain of the National Team Adilbek Niyazymbetov?
- He has been a member of the National Team for a long time and he passed two Olympic cycles. He is one of the most titled Kazakhstan boxers in the history. There isn't enough only "gold" of the Olympic Games. Also Adilbek can successfully compete at the forthcoming Asia and World Championships. Adilbek has leadership skills. I think the coaching staff considered all these moments and decided to assign Niyazymbetov as the new captain.
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- Zhanibek Alimkhanuly moved up to Adilbek Niyazymbetov's weight category (81 kg).
- The first Olympic Champion from Kazakhstan in boxing Vassiliy Jirov competed in this weight category. This weight is also considered as "Kazakh" category (along with 69 kg weight category - author's note), and we shall be leaders here too. Niyazymbetov successfully competed in this weight category for many years. This work will be continued and "silver" shall be changed to "gold". I believe that the competition in this weight category will be good for the National Team. We expect from Zhanibek good results. He didn't get a success recently. Therefore he has a high motivation.
- Who will be the first number in 91 kg weight category?
- It is out of question here. Vassiliy Levit. He is number one. There is still Anton Pinchuk in the team, but at the Kazakhstan National Championships he didn't his best.
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- And who can be in super heavy weight category instead of Ivan Dychko?
- He is a twice prize-winner of the Olympic Games, but there are other boxers in this weight category. However, at the Kazakhstan National Championships neither Kamshybek Konkabayev, nor Nurzhan Bekzatov, nor the new champion of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bukayev impressed me. I think they will be playing supporting roles. It is necessary to have a new leader. I see that the boxer from the National Youth Team can be him. There is still one athlete who needs to compete in the youth level a few years more. I mean Damir Toibaya. He has a great chance to go to the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
- This year the National Olympic Committee celebrates the 25 anniversary. In what you see the positive aspects of work of this organization in promoting of sport in the country?
- Last example is a hosting the Winter Universiade in Almaty. The Games will leave rich heritage for the city. The built new sport venues will serve for the benefit to residents of Almaty and city visitors. For example, the Almaty Arena ice complex. It has already become a place of interest of this city. I personally saw how just married couples came to this venue and made a photo session. It is considered that the city which has held the Olympic Games or Universiades is well-developed for several years. Many foreign athletes, fans and tourists have arrived to the Universiade in Almaty. Secondly, the Universiade became useful to the leading Kazakhstan athletes because the Universiade was one of stages of preparation for the Winter Olympic Games in 2018. The National Olympic Committee does everything possible for development of all winter and summer sports in the country.
Yerbol Kairov,
special for Prosports.kz
