Vladyslav Kolobov’s Achievement at the Astana Grand Slam
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Kolobov secured a bronze medal at the Grand Slam tournament held in Astana, Kazakhstan. In his opening bouts, he defeated Kazakhstan’s Argyunov, then overcame Brazil’s David Lima in the quarterfinals. However, his semifinal match ended in a loss to Moldova’s Petru Pelivan. In the repechage, the Ukrainian athlete triumphed over Russia’s Yegor Sukhoparov, earning him a spot on the podium. The gold in this weight category went to Kazakhstan’s Zhalgas Kairolla, who bested Pelivan in the final.
Ukraine’s Team at the Astana Grand Slam
Seven judokas represented Ukraine at the Astana Grand Slam:
- Artem Lesiuk (up to 60 kg)
- Vadym Chernov (up to 66 kg)
- Saidi-Magomed Khalidov (up to 73 kg)
- Vladyslav Kolobov (up to 81 kg)
- Artem Bubyr (up to 90 kg)
- Oleksii Yershov
- Zaur Dunyamaliyev (both up to 100 kg)
This same lineup also competed at the previous Grand Slam stage in Dushanbe.
This season, Ukrainian judokas have already collected seven medals from Grand Slam events. Among the silver medalists are:
- Dilshot Khalmatov (up to 60 kg, Paris)
- Anton Savytskyi (up to 100 kg, Paris)
- Mykhailo Svidrak (up to 81 kg, Tbilisi)
- Artem Lesiuk (up to 60 kg, Dushanbe)
In contrast, at the 2026 European Championships in Tbilisi, Ukraine’s judo team left without a single medal—marking the first time this has happened in 27 years.
Kolobov’s bronze in Astana highlights the growing strength of Ukrainian judo, even amid the challenging circumstances facing the nation. This latest medal adds to Ukraine’s solid Grand Slam tally this season, potentially boosting team morale and preparation for upcoming competitions. At the same time, the disappointing European Championships result in Tbilisi underscores the need for continued improvement to achieve stronger results on the international stage.
Kolobov's recent bronze medal at the Grand Slam in Astana follows a strong performance by the Ukrainian judo team at the previous event in Dushanbe. This consistent showing highlights the progress of Ukrainian judokas on the international stage. For a deeper insight into their preparations and achievements leading up to this tournament, read more about Ukraine's judo team heading to Astana.