Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) was selected to fill Kazakhstan's Olympic spot won at 2019 World Championships by London 2012 Olympian Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (5th place) after beating him and third candidate Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV at national championships. Was 10th himself at 72kg...Helped cause by finishing 2nd at Istanbul tournament in June, defeating world champion Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) 7-5 in quarterfinals and finishing higher than Shadukayev. Also won French Grand Prix in January 2020 ahead of Dilmukhamedov...Bronze medalist at 2021 Asian Championships for 4th career senior continental medal (none gold). Was on losing end of memorable 2018 final in Bishkek won by Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) before home crowd on final day...2017 world silver medalist at 71kg, losing 8-3 to Frank STAEBLER (GER) in final. Lost to Staebler again in quarterfinals at 2018 worlds...Silver medalist at 2016 World University Championships...Won twice in 1st 2 world appearances before being eliminated by Varsham BORANYAN (ARM) in 2014 and Davor STEFANEK (SRB) in 2015.