HSE Student Wins Gold at All-Russian Karate Championship
The All-Russian Karate Championship took place in Odintsovo, Moscow Region, bringing together over 2,000 participants from 42 regions of the country. Dmitry Konyaev, a second-year student in the Business Administration programme at the HSE Graduate School of Business, emerged victorious in the 18–20 age category, up to 65 kg weight class. He managed to outperform several dozen athletes representing top clubs from across Russia.
The Odintsovo tournament is considered one of the most prestigious karate competitions in Russia, attracting the strongest athletes nationwide. For many participants, it is a key moment in their sporting careers, opening doors to new opportunities and achievements.
‘The tournament was quite tough, especially compared to last year,’ said Dmitry Konyaev. ‘There were no easy opponents, so I had to be fully engaged from the very first fight. I achieved my goal has of meeting the qualification standard for the Candidate for Master of Sport title. Now we are gathering the necessary documents and waiting for the official confirmation.’
Dmitry Konyaev has been practising karate since he was six years old. His parents enrolled him in the nearest sports club, and soon after, he began winning competitions.
‘I am very grateful for this long and fascinating journey, full of plot twists worthy of a film. I would say that I met 90% of the people in my life thanks to this sport,’ the champion shared.
Dmitry Konyaev noted that in any competition he enters, he aims only for gold. His most successful seasons so far were 2018 and 2019, when he won three World Cups—in Croatia, Italy, and Cyprus. ‘Before the pandemic, we travelled a lot—Germany, Mexico, Estonia, Latvia. Domestically, I once placed fifth at the Russian Championship and have won more than a dozen All-Russian tournaments—I lost count a couple of years ago. When I lived in St Petersburg, I was part of the city’s team and led in all age and weight categories I competed in,’ he recalled.
When choosing a university, he immediately decided to relocate: ‘I wanted to challenge myself in a new city. I knew that moving to the capital without a job would be tough, so I looked for a programme at a top university that would allow me to study and work at the same time. That is how I chose the Business Administration programme at HSE,’ the student explained. He says his preparation for admission was typical for someone aiming for a prestigious university: ‘I am generally happy with my studies—I have met some wonderful people, which I really appreciate. It is well known that the best rest is a change of activity, so work, studies, and sport do not interfere with each other in my life. The key is knowing why you are doing it all—and enjoying the process.’