A Wrestler from Kabardino-Balkaria Won the First Medal for the Kyrgyzstan National Team

Free wrestler Malik Shavaev, representing Kyrgyzstan, won his first medal on the international stage.

At the end of 2025, he, a two-time champion of Russia, got the opportunity to compete for the Kyrgyzstan national team and became the national champion in December of the same year.

In January 2026, the wrestler, who trained in Kabardino-Balkaria, was included in the Kyrgyz national team to participate in the Yasar Dogu tournament held in Turkey. He competed in the weight category up to 86 kg, starting the competition from the round of 16.

In the first round, Shavaev won against his Turkish opponent, finishing the match with a score of 9:5, and then confidently defeated a wrestler from Albania, dominating the bout with a score of 12:2.

In the semifinals, he once again showcased his skills, defeating another representative from Turkey with a crushing score of 10:0, which advanced him to the final.

However, in the decisive match, Shavaev faced an Iranian wrestler and, despite all his efforts, lost with a score of 1:4, earning a silver medal.

This achievement marked his first award as part of the Kyrgyzstan national team.