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Snow Leopard Run 2025

Bishkek to Host Kyrgyzstan’s First-Ever Full Marathon as Part of Snow Leopard Run 2025

The Bishkek Snow Leopard Run 2025 will take place in the Kyrgyz capital on September 21, combining long-distance running with wildlife conservation. This year’s event will mark a milestone for the country, featuring Kyrgyzstan’s first-ever 42.2 km marathon. Organized by the Public Association Nomad Sport, the race is part of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) calendar and has also joined the Turkic Alliance of Long Runs (TAN), the first such alliance in Central Asia and the Caucasus. In addition to the full marathon, runners will compete in 5 km, 14 km, and 21.1 km races. All routes will begin at Bishkek’s central Ala-Too Square and pass through the city's main thoroughfares. Nomad Sport General Director Arslan Maldybaev said more than 5,000 runners are expected this year, including participants from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. “It is important to us that people learn about Kyrgyzstan and our symbol, the snow leopard, through sport. This is an opportunity to make a name for ourselves and become a magnet for sports tourism,” he told local media. A portion of the entry fees will support snow leopard conservation. Proceeds from this year’s race will fund the purchase of telescopes for wildlife monitoring. First held in 2019, the Bishkek Snow Leopard Run drew 3,600 runners from 20 countries in its inaugural year. The event highlights the growing symbolic role of the snow leopard in Kyrgyzstan. In December 2023, The Times of Central Asia reported that President Sadyr Japarov had signed a decree officially designating the snow leopard as a national emblem.

Chess Prodigy

Kazakhstani Chess Prodigy to Represent France at Age 8

At just eight years old, Iskander Zhakupov has earned a spot on the French national youth chess team. This fall, the Kazakhstani citizen will represent France at the World Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the European Championship in Budva, Montenegro. In France, non-citizen children can compete internationally under the national flag if they attend school in the country and are part of a chess club. For adults, however, citizenship is required. Iskander was born in 2017 and is growing up to be an active and inquisitive boy. He enjoys soccer, playing guitar, solving Rubik’s Cubes, and studying math. In preschool, he was even awarded the title “Math Student of the Year.” Although both of his parents are citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, they currently live and work in France. His mother, Marzhan Kamardina, told The Times of Central Asia that his passion for chess began at the age of three, during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, his older brother was taking online chess lessons with a coach, and Iskander became fascinated while watching him play. “In the summer of 2021, we happened to visit a science museum,” his mother recalled. “As part of a chess promotion exhibit, there were tables set up for casual play. The organizers were amazed to learn that Iskander was only four years old. By then, he already knew so much. It was the first outside confirmation of his abilities and a real discovery for us.” Iskander soon began competing in online tournaments. During one hosted by a Kazakhstani chess school, a referee noted his use of a wide range of openings, including unconventional ones. Unlike Kazakhstan, France lacks a formal ranking system, so Iskander earns his titles through online qualifiers. He reached the equivalent of a second-level rank six months ago and will need to compete in an in-person tournament in Kazakhstan to advance to the first level. Iskander’s first major tournament took place in 2021, when he entered the qualifying round of the French under-8 championship at just four years old, competing against children three or four years older. He competed in seven games, winning four, drawing one, and earning 4.5 points, which was enough to advance to the regional Ile-de-France Championship. As the youngest player to qualify, he received a special prize. At the time, he didn’t grasp the significance of the achievement. He was simply enjoying the game. By age seven, Iskander had taken second place in the Ile-de-France tournament. In 2025, he became the French under-8 champion. The 62nd French Junior Chess Championship was recently held in Vichy, drawing more than 1,800 young players from across the country. The under-8 and under-10 categories competed over five days, each playing nine intense rounds. In the final rounds, Iskander faced regional champions from all over France. He lost only one game, to a player who had earlier been defeated by someone Iskander had beaten. Both players finished with 8 points, and the outcome remained uncertain until the very end. Iskander had...

Sport

Kyrgyzstan Prepares for First-Ever Ultramarathon Around Lake Issyk-Kul

Kyrgyzstan is set to host its first-ever ultramarathon around Issyk-Kul Lake, one of the world’s largest high-altitude lakes, between May 5 and 10. The event, titled the 1st Issyk Kul Six-Day Challenge, is billed as the world’s longest six-stage foot race, covering a total distance of 460 kilometers. The ultramarathon will take place over six days and six grueling stages: 90 km, 74 km, 87 km, 85 km, 79 km, and 45 km. Participants will race on a mix of asphalt, gravel roads, and dirt trails at elevations reaching up to 2,000 meters above sea level. Participation is capped at 100 runners. The racecourse has been carefully planned not only to circumnavigate the entire lake but also to showcase some of Kyrgyzstan’s most dramatic landscapes, including the otherworldly Fairy Tale Canyon and the striking rock formations of the Seven Bulls. “Issyk-Kul has been a place of power for many great marathoners, including Olympic champion Valentina Egorova and Olympic bronze medalist Satymkul Dzhumanazarov,” said Alex Golowin, Race Director and Head Coach at Running Expert. “We at Running Expert have been coming here for years to train for both marathons and ultras. The working altitude, mild weather, food familiar to Europeans, and the stunning nature make training here not only effective but also inspiring.” Organizers hope the event will help establish Kyrgyzstan as an emerging destination for sports tourism, drawing endurance athletes from around the world to the heart of Central Asia.

Sports

Kazakhstan Bans Use of Public Funds to Pay Foreign Athletes

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a new law prohibiting the use of state budget funds and funds from the quasi-governmental sector, to finance the participation of foreign athletes in Kazakh sports clubs. Under the legislation, foreign “legionnaires” may now only be contracted using money from private sponsors. The move aims to refocus state support on domestic talent in professional sports. According to the presidential administration, athletes holding Kazakhstani passports who compete at elite levels, including in Olympic, Paralympic, Deaflympic, Asian, and national sports, will remain eligible for public funding. Funding Priorities and Implementation “The priority sports will be defined based on achievements on the international stage,” Akorda stated. These will include sports featured in the programs of major multi-sport events, along with traditional national disciplines. Budget allocations will also continue for state-run physical culture and sports organizations, grassroots sports initiatives, and the development of sports infrastructure. The final list of high-performance priority sports, along with detailed budget allocation procedures, will be finalized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. In addition to the funding changes, the new law introduces unified standards for athlete training and outlines measures to promote traditional values and patriotic education. A new concept, “national standards of sports training”, has been formally introduced into legislation. Financial Impact and Transition Period Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev previously estimated that Kazakhstan allocates around 400 billion tenge (approximately $797 million) annually to high-performance sports through national and regional budgets. Currently, football and hockey clubs can receive up to 1.2 billion KZT ($2.4 million) per year, while basketball and volleyball clubs are limited to 450 million KZT ($897,000). The new rules, however, will not affect existing contracts, as Kazakh law is not retroactive. Nevertheless, authorities have advised clubs across all sports not to sign new agreements with foreign athletes in 2025. Potential Legal Challenges Observers note that the restrictions may conflict with Kazakhstan’s obligations under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Treaty, which guarantees the free movement of labor among member states. The move could impact the future participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, in particular, in Kazakhstan’s domestic leagues. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, legal interpretations of the EAEU Treaty’s provisions may play a decisive role in how these new restrictions are implemented in practice.

Sport

Kazakhstan Senate Approves Ban on Budget Funding for Foreign Athletes

The Senate, Kazakhstan’s upper house of parliament, has passed amendments to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports that ban the use of state funds to finance foreign athletes, commonly known as "legionnaires." The bill is now awaiting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s signature to become law. Ending State Support and Introducing Salary Caps Kazakhstan’s efforts to reduce foreign dominance in national sports date back to 2020. Initial measures included capping the number of foreign players allowed on the field in football and hockey, as well as restricting their funding through state budgets. However, according to Vice-Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev, these regulations, embedded in competition rules and government resolutions, have not been consistently enforced at the regional level. The new legislation aims to enshrine these restrictions in law. “Regarding the financing of legionnaires: the bill prescribes a prohibition on funding these individuals from the state budget and quasi-governmental sector. However, funding from extra-budgetary sources, such as sponsorships, remains permissible,” Zharasbayev explained. The law will also empower the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to set financial limits for clubs in football, hockey, and other team sports. “This legislation will allow us to define how much each club is eligible to receive from the budget and to cap salaries of football and hockey players accordingly,” the Vice-Minister said. He added that the savings would be redirected to support grassroots youth sports, although he could not specify the projected amount. Budget Caps for Sports Clubs While specific funding limits have yet to be determined, Zharasbayev noted that the combined annual allocation from national and regional budgets is about 400 billion KZT (approximately $797 million). Currently, football and hockey clubs may receive up to 1.2 billion KZT (around $2.4 million) annually, while other sports, such as basketball and volleyball, are capped at 450 million KZT ($897,000). “For the 14 clubs in the Kazakhstan Premier League, a cumulative 30 billion KZT was allocated in 2024. It’s within this sum that we aim to identify potential savings,” Zharasbayev said. He reported that 325 foreign players competed in Kazakhstan’s three professional football divisions last year. Some have since obtained Kazakhstani citizenship, making them eligible for state funding. The new law, however, will apply only to future contracts. “Existing contracts will remain in effect until their expiration, as the law is not retroactive. Still, we have advised clubs not to sign new contracts with foreign players starting in 2025,” Zharasbayev stated. He also emphasized the need to regulate domestic athletes’ salaries, citing “unreasonably high payments” as a growing concern. A separate legal act is in development to address the issue. Scandals Within the Football Federation The legislation comes amid ongoing investigations into financial misconduct under the previous leadership of the Kazakhstan Football Federation. The Prosecutor General’s Office reported violations amounting to 3 billion KZT (nearly $6 million), including unjustified bonuses, misused funds for infrastructure, questionable player transactions, and embezzlement related to athlete meals. Specifically, over 300 million KZT ($597,000) in unwarranted bonuses were issued, and more than...

Sport

Uzbek Star Khusanov Named Man City’s Player of the Month

Uzbek footballer Abdukodir Khusanov has made history by being named Etihad Player of the Month for February, just six weeks after joining Manchester City on a four-and-a-half-year contract. A Rapid Rise at City Khusanov has quickly won over fans with his strong, fast, and determined defensive performances under head coach Pep Guardiola. His impressive displays earned him the highest number of votes ever recorded for the award, surpassing star players Erling Haaland and Joško Gvardiol. The 21-year-old, who recently celebrated his birthday, has already made a significant impact at City. He scored his first goal for the club in early February, helping City secure a 2-1 victory against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup. Last month, he played every minute of City’s Premier League matches against Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur. The team won two of these games, keeping clean sheets against Newcastle and Spurs. Even in City’s defeat to Liverpool, Khusanov stood out as one of the team’s best performers. His steady improvement suggests he is adapting well to English football. Transfer and Future Prospects As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Khusanov joined Manchester City from French club Lens in a €40 million transfer. He signed a contract until June 2029, with an option to extend for another year. Manchester City congratulated Khusanov on his award and thanked fans for their votes. With such a strong start, many believe he has much more to offer Guardiola’s squad in the future.