The Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam 2026 wrapped up in style on its final day in Astana, with the heavyweight categories delivering a fitting climax to three days of intense competition. The crowd at the Barys Arena created an electric atmosphere as athletes from across the globe vied for top honours.
European Golds Across the Board
In the men's -90kg category, Serbia's Boris Rutovic faced Brazil's Guilherme Schmidt. With just 20 seconds remaining, the 19-year-old Rutovic scored the only yuko of the contest, securing his first Grand Slam gold medal in only his second appearance at this level. International Judo Federation Head Referee Director Armen Bagdasarov presented the medals.
The women's -78kg final was an all-German affair, pitting Anna Monta Olek against compatriot Alina Boehm. Olek edged the contest on penalties, claiming gold in a tightly contested match. Mohammed Meridja, the IJF's Education and Coaching Director, awarded the medals.
In the men's -100kg, Kazakhstan's Marat Baikamurov delighted the home crowd by taking on Moldova's Vadim Ghimbovschi. Baikamurov opened with an early yuko and held off the Moldovan's attacks to secure gold. Olympic silver medallist Askhat Zhitkeyev presented the medals.
The women's +78kg saw Kazakhstan's Kamila Berlikash face Russia's Elis Startseva. Startseva secured her first Grand Slam gold with an arm lock for ippon, with IJF Referee Director Raul Camacho Perez awarding the medals.
In the men's +100kg, top seed Inal Tasoev of Russia faced Ushangi Kokauri. A single yuko was enough for the world champion Tasoev to claim his 11th Grand Slam gold medal, presented by IJF Head Sport Director Vladimir Barta.
Kazakhstan's Strong Finish
The final day was particularly successful for Kazakhstan, which secured four medals to finish third in the overall medal table. This performance builds on the country's strong tradition in judo, as highlighted in our earlier coverage of Kazakhstan's opening day at the Grand Slam.
The event also underscored the depth of European judo, with athletes from Serbia, Germany, and Russia taking gold. This follows the pattern seen at other recent IJF events, such as the Judo Grand Slam in Dushanbe, where European heavyweights also dominated the final day.
The world tour now takes a one-month break before resuming in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. For judo fans across Europe, the performances in Astana offer a promising glimpse of the talent that will compete at future championships.
