THE 5TH YEAR STUDENT OF SKSPhA NURSULTAN KASENOV WON THE SECOND PRIZE AT THE REPUBLICAN FREESTYLE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT IN KARAGANDA

Nursultan Kasenov, Master of Sports in freestyle wrestling, the 5^th year student of Medical Faculty of South - Kazakhstan State Pharmaceutical Academy, a graduate of school of higher sports mastery in freestyle wrestling prefers oatmeal or buckwheat with milk for breakfast. The ABCs of proper nutrition and daily training sessions for four hours tell on his results. In October of this year, at the republican tournament named after Nurken Abdirov in Karaganda, Nursultan won the second place among the titled sportsmen. He is the winner of international tournaments, Kazakhstan Freestyle Wrestling Championship and has 20 medals – a gold one is among juniors at national championship, second and third prizes are in international competitions among adults held in Almaty, Taldykorgan, Karaganda. Today we asked Nursultan Kasenov to answer many questions and thereby, tell us about himself, studying in high school and how it is important to keep fit.

- Freestyle wrestling is one of the spectator sports. How it so happened, that you chose a freestyle wrestling, not Greco-Roman wrestling?

- When I was a pupil of 7^th grade at school named after Dina Nurpeisova in Shymkent, I decided to lose weight. I became a sports class member of the coach Sagyntay Karatayev. A month later, I lost 30 kilograms. I got into it and began to participate in competitions. It was pleasant, in a word. When I became a winner, everybody was proud of me. I continued to go in for sports even when my family moved to microdistrict “Vostok”, where I continued my studies at secondary school №28. When I passed Unified National Testing, I got 97 points and entered private University of People’s Friendship, then I decided to transfer to SKSPhA; due to the study programme difference, I lost a whole year; thus, I was the 1^st year student twice, but I do not regret.

- What qualities did you develop over these years going in for sport?

-  Sports character is composed of endurance, patience and modesty. If you lose a competition, then treat with a smile, showing no emotion. I was lucky enough to meet the legends of Kazakh sport Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov, Ilya Ilyin, Serik Sapiyev, Maulen Mamyrov, Akzhurek Tanatarov at the training camp. And learn a lot from them. My beliefs about the Olympic champion Ilya Ilyin were wrong. We, young guys, believed that he was cool, having made a selfie with the President of Kazakhstan. Ilya Ilyin was in fact a modest man, behind him there were many international championships and the Olympics, World Cup, Cup of Europe and Asia. He always shook hands and tried to answer the questions, but we tried not to show too much attention. In sports camp “Baysheshek mountains” (Burgulyuk) Ilya Ilyin once trained at 10 p.m. We managed to see his training session. Usually everybody go to bed at this time to wake up early.

- Did you cry often in case of a loss?

- Two or three times, and from the heart. I stood clear so that no one could see me. You should have a confidence and belief in yourself, be sure to be the first. And no less important fact is to save strength for future competitions. It is easier to win by being mentally prepared. Do not give up, even if you lose. The coaches explain that you need to go to the mat relaxed, loose and only in this case, the victory will be ours.

- Where are your training sessions more difficult?

- In the mountains. It is necessary to run uphill at a rapid – fire pace and walk down the hill slowly to avoid damaging the knee joint. 

- You have being studied in SKSPhA for five years; regular training sessions, training camps and competitions can interfere a studying process, and nevertheless, you have good marks.  

- In the second year there was a difficult subject “Pathologic anatomy”, thanks to my patience, I mastered this subject. I have never thought that public health section on “Food hygiene” is the most entertaining. The sportsmen eat healthy food and do not eat all kinds of fast food, baked breads, burgers, carbonated soft drinks. Students and pupils drink coca- cola, have a snack, forgetting cereals, dairy products, light supper at night to sleep well.

- Nursultan, could it be possible that you did not have a desire to drop everything and be like everyone else?

- When I was the 1^st year student, I missed my training sessions twice. I decided to understand what are doing my fellow students in their free time. Game room, hot dogs, fast food, small talks. Everyone is free to think about his leisure time. I do not blame them, but it’s not for me.

-What are you doing in your free time?

- I am free only in Sunday. On this day, my mother tries to keep me busy. To be honest, when I do household chores, I relax. We have a taboo on nightclubs, birthdays, weddings.

- What competitions do you train for? 

- There will be Kazakhstan Championship in freestyle wrestling in March 2017.

- Who is a fan of you: your mother, fellow students, brothers, sisters?

- My mother once attended a competition when I was in the junior team. I am supported by B.D. Seksenbayev, the Rector of SKSPhA, MD, Professor, B.K. Makhatov, the First Vice-Rector, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor, B.Z. Doltayeva, the dean of Medical Faculty, the group 508 “B”, my relatives, my family, Kazakh land. My mother, of course, prohibits doing things I love, like all mothers in the world, is distressed for me.

Competition is a competition, there are my favorite techniques, crunch, hip – rolls, charley horse. Those who have no desire to go in for sports will always find excuses. I will fight on the mat until doing “good” or “excellent”. And also, Marat Yerdenov, the head coach of SKR in freestyle wrestling, a multiple champion of Kazakhstan and World Championships, a winner of the Asian Championship cheers for me.

- Why do you walk with a limp?

- I got injured my leg, it will be OK till the wedding day.

P.S. Nursultan Kasenov, Master of Sports in freestyle wrestling can be called a technic sportsman, who is able to build a fight on the mat. Injuries, of course, have an effect. The desire to win is prevalent. And Nursultan Kasenov, the 5^th year student of SKSPhA tries to gain strength and power combining study and training sessions to be ready to the main republican competitions.

Raikhan SHAYMERDENOVA, a journalist.