Kazakh Wrestler Andrey Samarin Crowned Deaflympics Champion in Tokyo
Tokyo, The Gulf Observer: Kazakhstani Greco-Roman wrestler Andrey Samarin secured a decisive victory at the ongoing Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, capturing the gold medal in the 67kg weight category. According to the Kazakh Tourism and Sports Ministry, Samarin dominated the final bout, defeating Iran’s Mehdi Bakhshi with an overwhelming score of 11–1, earning him the title of Deaflympics champion.
Samarin showcased exceptional form throughout the competition. He began his campaign with a 5–2 win over Kyrgyzstan’s Dinmukhamed Bigeldiev, followed by a commanding 8–0 triumph against Bulgaria’s Dilyan Dimitrov in the quarterfinals. He continued his momentum in the semifinals, overpowering Armenia’s Zhora Grigoryan with another 8–0 scoreline.
At just 21 years old, Samarin hails from Kargaly village in the Zhambyl district of the Almaty region. His achievement adds to an already impressive career, as he is the 2023 U20 World Champion and the reigning champion of the 10th Asia-Pacific Games held in Malaysia in 2024.
With Samarin’s gold, Kazakhstan’s overall medal tally at the Tokyo Deaflympics has risen to fourteen medals, comprising seven gold, two silver, and five bronze.
The Deaflympics, taking place from November 15 to 26, gather approximately 3,000 athletes from 81 countries, competing across 21 sports and 209 disciplines. The event is held every four years and is dedicated to athletes with hearing impairments.
Kazakhstan is competing with a delegation of 78 athletes across eight sports at this year’s Games.
At the previous edition — the 24th Summer Deaflympics in 2022 — Kazakhstan delivered a record-breaking performance, securing 29 medals, including four gold.
