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My First International Competition – Anara Ashimova, Silver Medalist in Shaolin Wushu

I was never a big sports person, but working at the computer and not moving much eventually made me realize I needed some kind of physical activity to cheer myself up and to recharge my body. After all, I wanted to be healthy and active in my maturity - I don’t want to call it old age. I had doubts about my physical abilities, but I was resolute, so I decided to go for a sport with exercises that are possible for and improve the health of people of age. Therefore, I took up the sport of Wushu, starting in a large group under the guidance of Gaini Kypshakbai, a master of the art. The first few months were challenging, but I slowly developed new skills. A lot of people quit during this time, and eventually only three of us were left in the group. Gradually, I developed an obsession with the classes as a way to strengthen my body and spirit. Our coach, Gaini, deserves a separate piece to be written about her for her patience and mentoring, but for now, I will just say that I'm grateful and full of respect for her. Laoshi (coach in Chinese) Gaini gently introduced us to the Tai Chi community, an association of enthusiasts who are passionate about what they do. In my third year of classes, I wanted to broaden my horizons, watch the masters, and show off my modest skills. So, after participating in the Championship for the Republic of Kazakhstan, we went to China for The 13th Zhengzhou China International Shaolin Wushu Competition. [caption id="attachment_25561" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Team Kazakhstan; image: A.Ashimova[/caption] Our team consisted of twelve people of different ages ranging from 30 to 65; it was the first international competition for all of us. Some of us were leaving Kazakhstan for the first time, but I'd been to Urumqi 20 years before. Everything that awaited us upon our arrival in China impressed and delighted us. The first thing that pleased me was how clean and organized everything was. People were friendly and willing to help, and, most importantly, it was completely safe. The cities we visited were very green with beautiful trees and lots of flowers; the parks were well-maintained, and the air was clean and fresh. Almost every city had the same level of population as Kazakhstan, but it never felt crowded. Everything was organized, clear, and accessible. For us, the myth that the Chinese do not speak English was also dispelled. If we encountered a language barrier, it was easily overcome by modern online translators. The youth of China were very bright, independent, and open. The Opening Ceremony of the festival was an indescribable delight. The small town of Danfeng welcomed us alongside representatives of 65 schools of Tai Chi. The competition was a festival celebrating the different styles of Wushu. We couldn’t contain our excitement as we took pictures on our smartphones and greeted the young athletes from the windows of the bus as thirty-five...

soccer EAEU Sports Legislation

Kazakhstan Sports Anticipates Influx of Russian and Belarusian Athletes

Kazakhstan's lower house of parliament, the Mazhilis, has approved in its first reading a bill on physical culture and sports that would ban the funding of foreign athletes (legionnaires) from the state budget and national companies with government stakes. However, even if this bill is enacted, Kazakh sports teams will retain a legal avenue to invite athletes from Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries using public funds. For the first time, Kazakhstan’s national legislature is proposing a provision prohibiting the use of state funds to finance athletes who are not citizens of Kazakhstan, with the goal of prioritizing Kazakh athletes in terms of both sports representation and financial support. Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabasynov has also suggested setting a cap on state funding for professional sports clubs, which would vary by sport according to national priorities. “The freed funds will be redirected towards children’s and youth sports, including boarding schools, youth sports schools, sports reserves, and facility upgrades,” Myrzabasynov explained. The bill was approved in the first reading. Currently, government funding for sports clubs in Kazakhstan comes from two main sources. Teams competing internationally, such as the Barys hockey team in the Continental Hockey League, the Astana basketball team in the VTB United League, and the Astana cycling team in the World Tour, receive support from the Samruk-Kazyna fund. Other teams in soccer, hockey, basketball, and volleyball competing in Kazakhstan’s national championships are funded by local budgets, with Astana’s soccer team - which also receives sponsorship from the Samruk-Kazyna fund - being the sole exception. Should the bill pass, these teams will need to rely on Kazakh athletes — or athletes from EAEU countries such as Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. The Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, enacted in January 2015, promotes the free movement of services, goods, capital, and labor across member states, ensuring equal labor rights and remuneration for citizens of EAEU countries. This treaty means that Kazakh clubs cannot restrict funding for athletes from EAEU nations without breaching international commitments. In Kazakh soccer, for instance, EAEU athletes are not counted as foreign players in the Premier League, a policy instituted after the Kazakhstan Football Federation set a limit on foreign players several years ago, capping each team’s roster at eight foreign players per season. Athletes from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, however, are treated as domestic players due to Kazakhstan’s international obligations. This arrangement stems from Kazakhstan’s Law on Legal Acts, which stipulates that ratified international treaties take precedence over national laws. Therefore, if the bill banning foreign athletes' funding from the state budget is fully enacted, EAEU athletes will remain exempt from this ban. The bill must still pass through a second reading in the Mazhilis, two readings in the Senate, and obtain presidential approval before it becomes law. Questions remains as to whether Kazakh sports clubs will use this provision to hire athletes from EAEU countries, given potential legal challenges. Local administrations (akimats) who would be affected by any restrictions on funding for...

Sports Delphic Games Culture CIS International event

Children’s Delphic Games Open in Kyrgyzstan

The First Open Children's Delphic Games for CIS countries has begun in Bishkek. The opening ceremony was held at the Toktogul Satylganov Kyrgyz National Philharmonic. The event strives to revive the ancient Greek traditions of the Delphic Games, which took place in the city of Delphi and were dedicated to art and culture. The competition program this year includes competitions for piano, violin, classical guitar, pop and solo singing, folk dance, and DJing. The festival features folk instruments, arts and crafts, and sign language songs. Asel Chynbaeva, Commissioner for Children's Rights, opened the Games by speaking about the importance of the Delphic Games as a platform for cultural exchange and showcasing talent among young people from Eurasian countries. This year special attention is being paid to the Paradelphi nomination, which includes the performance of works in sign language. This emphasizes the importance of inclusiveness and demonstrates how art can overcome barriers and unite people. The Games will run until October 5.

World Nomad Games Sports Extreme Sports World Cultural Heritage Kokpar Kok boru incident

A Bone of Contention: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan at Loggerheads Following World Nomad Games Kokpar Final

Astana largely managed to turn the 5th World Nomad Games into an exemplary international sporting event free of politics and disagreements. Overall, the Games stood in stark contrast to the Olympics in Paris earlier this year, when the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow a handful of athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under a neutral flag led to calls from some counties for a boycott. However, the culmination of the Nomad Games saw an unpleasant incident at the final of the most popular event, which resulted in a fallout between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://timesca.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/nomad-game-2.mp4"][/video] A blow with a kamcha On September 12, an incident occurred during the Kokpar final, in which the national teams of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan met, when a player from the Kazakh team, which was underperforming, struck a Kyrgyz rider with a kamcha (whip). At this point, the game was stopped, and a squad of law enforcement officers immediately surrounded the culprit. After the offender was suspended from proceedings and given a time penalty, the game continued, and Kazakhstan, having leveled the score, won the match in overtime. The Kokpar final at the previous Nomad Games, hosted by Turkey, also ended with a marginal Kazakh victory in the derby between the long-standing rivals. However, unlike in 2022, this time the Kyrgyz national team did not accept defeat in silence. At the awards ceremony, the Kyrgyz team ripped off their silver medals, raised their country's flag, and defiantly left the arena. “We knew it would be unfair, but not to this extent. The referees were swearing at us, and the police were beating our players," the Kyrgyz captain said. "A KNB (national security) officer came up to me, showed me his ID card, took my picture, and started to intimidate me, saying I was sowing discord between nations. The pressure was strong. After the scuffle, when the score was 3-1 in our favor, we were asked to leave the game. They said the refereeing would be fair... We didn't think the Kazakhstani side would allow such disorganization and injustice. If Kazakhstanis have pride, they won't celebrate such a victory.” The press service of Kazakhstan's National Security Committee promptly denied the allegations, saying their officers were not involved in providing security for the Games. Tastanbek Yesentaev, the Chief Judge of the World Nomad Games in Astana, threatened the Kyrgyz team with a 2-3 year suspension from the competition for showing disrespect. This statement only served to further inflame proceedings. At a briefing on September 16, four days after the final, Ramis Kudaibergenov, an expert on the Kyrgyz Kok-Boru Federation, stated that the Kazakh national team committed 14 gross violations of rules in the final of the Kokpar, and given a level playing field, the Kyrgyz team would have won 5-1. “Everyone blames the referee, but the whole system is culpable. We prepared the players based on previous games, but there were so many infractions we didn't take into account. We were able to...

Cultural Heritage Sports World Nomad Games Art and Culture Space

Kazakhstan Launches National Board Game Into Space

The Kazakh pastime "Togyzkumalak" has become the first board game to travel into space. Its launch was organized to promote the 2024 edition of the World Nomad Games, which are currently being held in Astana. Togyzkumalak is one of the oldest Kazakh board games, with a history dating back about 4,000 years. The game is played by two players, who start with 81 stones. Their goal is to "capture" their opponent's stones, and place them into a "cauldron". On September 9 Togyzkumalak was played for the first time at the Nomad Games. The Togyzkumalak tournament has 114 competitors from 41 countries, including Colombia, Bangladesh, the UK, France, Germany, the USA, China, and others. In 2020 Togyzkumalak was included in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, emphasizing its cultural significance for Kazakhstan and other Turkic peoples. After a successful launch, the board was eventually returned to Earth.

Paralympics olimpic games Sports

Uzbekistan Leads the Field in Central Asia’s Medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics

To date, Uzbekistan ranks 9th out of 169 countries in medals gained at the Paris 024 Paralympic Games, with five gold, three silver, and three bronze. Placed 13th at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with 13 medals, Uzbekistan continues to show robust performances in the Paralympic Games. Highlights include Asila Mirzayorova’s gold in the long jump - a paralympic record of 5.22 meters - and Yorqinbek Odilov’s gold in the men’s javelin throw. Uzbek athletes Elbek Sultanov and Qudratillokhan Marufkhojayev, flourished in the men’s shot put, winning the gold medal; Kubaro Hakimova won the silver medal, and Talibboy Yoldoshev won the bronze. In Paralympic Taekwondo, 22-year-old Asadbek Toshtemirov won gold in the under 80 kg category, while Ziyodakhon Isakova (47 kg) and Guljonoy Naimova (65 kg) took silver. Mokhigul Khamdamova added to the medal tally with a bronze in the women’s discus throw, and Muslima Odilova, with a bronze in the women’s 100m butterfly. Kazakh athletes finished the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 43rd place with seven medals, and at the Paralympics, Yerkin Gabbasov has won a silver in shooting. The remaining three Central Asian countries — Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan — have no medals as yet.