How Kazakhstani athletes prepare for kok boru competitions (VIDEO)

In anticipation of the 5th World Nomad Games, which will be held in September in Astana, Kazakhstani athletes are preparing for kokpar and kok boru at training camps in the Almaty region, Liter.kz reports.

The VIC will host kokpar and kok boru competitions.

“The athletes are currently preparing at a good level. I can name teams from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as strong rivals. If we count on winning in kokpar, then in kok boru the teams have half a chance. We haven’t played kok boru for several years, but we are doing everything possible to perform well, and we are preparing for both kokpar and kok boru,” said Akylbay Mankeyev, head coach of the national kokpar team of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Member of the national kokpar team Nauryzbay Kaltayev spoke about preparations for the Games and named the main differences between the two sports.

“Preparations for the 5th World Nomad Games are at a high level. The differences between the two sports are in the number of halves – kok boru has three, kokpar has two. The “gate” in kok boru is a kazandyk, and in kokpar it is a circle drawn on the ground,” said kokpar team member Nauryzbay Kaltayev.

The kok boru competition involves 12 riders from each of the two teams. The kokpara federation has brought in experienced consultants to prepare the athletes. The training camps are organized with the support of the Center for National and Equestrian Sports of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Let us recall that the republican federation of kokpar is a part of the Association of National Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In addition, the Association includes federations of bayge, audaryspak, sadak atu, zhamby atu, tenge ilu, kusbegilik, asyk atu, JORYQ and others. The Association of National Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan is headed by Islambek Salzhanov.

Let us recall that the 5th World Nomad Games will be held on September 8-13. It is expected that about two thousand participants will take part in the event. The general sponsor of the 5th World Nomad Games is the domestic technology company Alageum Electric, and the main partner is the country’s backbone universal commercial bank – Halyk Bank. At the World Nomad Games in Astana, 97 sets of medals will be contested in 21 sports.

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