Kazakh boxer Torekhan Sabyrkhan has commented on his triumph at the 2026 Summer Asian Games in Japan, where he won a gold medal as part of Kazakhstan's national team, according to infohub.kz.
In an interview published on the National Olympic Committee's website, the champion admitted that he had prepared very well for the competition and was glad to be the first to win gold. According to him, this was a big dream for him and his brother after the World Championships. This time they were unable to win gold together, but the athlete believes they will definitely achieve that goal in the future.
Sabyrkhan noted that he had specifically prepared for his final opponent, as he wanted to avenge his defeat at the Asian Championships. "In the end, everything worked out well, and I managed to settle the score with him. We studied the opponent's previous fights and worked out a tactic in advance. I managed to execute our plan perfectly," the boxer said.
He also explained that at the Asian Championships he had chosen the wrong tactic and took hits from his opponent. This time he tried not to rush, not to give him a chance to attack, and to control the distance properly.
Torekhan specified that he dominated in the first two rounds, and in the third he did not slow down and acted boldly. He managed to wear down his opponent and get his way. This time he wanted to prove that "Kazakh boxers know how to settle the score."
"Our main goal lies ahead — the World Championships, which will be held in Astana. We will prepare for that tournament. This time my brother and I were unable to win gold at the Asian Games. Now we will try to fulfill our dream at the World Championships. Besides, the Olympic Games are ahead. I want to express huge gratitude to all of Kazakhstan. Fans support me on social media and write many warm words. Thank you all very much for the support," Torekhan Sabyrkhan concluded.
It is worth adding that Torekhan's brother, boxer Makhmud Sabyrkhan, won a bronze medal at the Summer Asian Games. In the semifinals of the 55 kg weight category, he faced Filipino Carlo Paalam.