Muay Thai Legend Buakaw Banchamek to Hold Masterclass in Astana
Images | Kazakhstan Muay Thai Federation
A Muay Thai masterclass featuring renowned champions will be held at the Kazakh National University of Sport (KNUS) in Astana on Aug. 20-21, 2026.
The headline participant will be legendary Thai Muay Thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek, who will lead training sessions and share his experience with Kazakh athletes, coaches and Muay Thai enthusiasts.
The masterclass will also feature prominent fighters Nuenglanlek Jitmuangnon, nicknamed "Million Horsepower," and Marie Ruumet, known as "Snow Leopard."
Organizers said the event is aimed at promoting Muay Thai and is also expected to strengthen cooperation between Kazakhstan and Thailand in sports, culture and humanitarian exchanges.
The event is expected to attract hundreds of athletes and Muay Thai enthusiasts from Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.
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Kazakhstan Tops Medal Table at Sixth World Nomad Games
Images | MTS RK
Kazakhstan finished first in the overall medal standings at the Sixth World Nomad Games, according to Askat Alagozov, press secretary to the president of Kyrgyzstan.
Alagozov said a technical discrepancy had emerged during the medal count. The Organising Committee decided to count the medals won by each of three Kazakh athletes separately, moving Kazakhstan into first place in the overall standings.
"Today, the Organising Committee decided to count the medals of each of the three Kazakh athletes separately. As a result, Kazakhstan took first place in the overall team standings. Congratulations to our Kazakh brothers on their victory!" Alagozov wrote.
He also said the Sixth World Nomad Games had been held to a high standard, highlighting the kok-boru and zher-ulak competitions between the teams of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
According to Alagozov, the rivalry between the athletes remained strictly on the field, with no disagreements arising between supporters.
Kazakhstan won a total of 74 medals at the Games: 32 gold, 20 silver and 22 bronze.
Kazakh athletes won medals in audaryspak, zhamby atu, qazaq kuresi, alysh, arm wrestling, tug of war, togyzkumalak, mangala, traditional archery, horse racing and other traditional sports.
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Kazakhstan Wins 74 Medals as World Nomad Games Conclude in Kyrgyzstan
Images | MTS RK
The VI World Nomad Games have concluded in Kyrgyzstan, with Kazakhstan winning 74 medals, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports.
The Kazakh team finished the Games with 32 gold, 20 silver and 22 bronze medals.
Kazakh athletes won gold and other medals in audaryspak, zhamby atu, qazaq kuresi, alysh, arm wrestling, tug of war, togyzkumalak, mangala, traditional archery, horse racing and other traditional sports.
According to Kazakhstan’s Tourism and Sports Ministry, the country won more gold medals than Kyrgyzstan, which claimed 30. Russia ranked third by the number of gold medals, with seven.
However, in the medal table published by the Games organisers, Kazakhstan was listed in second place behind Kyrgyzstan.
Around 3,000 athletes from 113 countries took part in the VI World Nomad Games, held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6.
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Kazakhstan Wins 32 Gold Medals at World Nomad Games
Images | MTS RK
Kazakhstan’s medal tally at the VI World Nomad Games has reached 32 golds following the sixth day of competition, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports.
Kazakh athletes competed for medals today in kokpar, kok-boru, togyzkumalak, mangala and oware.
Kazakhstan won four gold and two silver medals in togyzkumalak, while its athletes claimed two golds, two silvers and one bronze in mangala.
In the kok-boru final, Kazakhstan faced Kyrgyzstan and took silver.
According to the Games programme, the official closing ceremony of the VI World Nomad Games will take place today from 6 p.m. to midnight. The programme includes a concert, the ceremonial handover of the hosting rights for the VII World Nomad Games and a fireworks display.
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Kazakhstan Wins Gold in 300km Horse Race at World Nomad Games
Images | Ministry of Tourism and Sports
Kazakhstan has won gold in the 300-kilometre Zhoryq endurance horse race at the VI World Nomad Games, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports.
"The riders covered the 300-kilometre distance over four days and were the first to cross the finish line," the ministry’s press service said.
The winning Kazakh team comprised Yerzhan Yernar, Tolebay Zharas, Ydyrys Zhaksylyk, Reimbay Kanat and Yessen Akhmet.
Kazakhstan also leads the overall medal standings based on the interim results of the VI World Nomad Games.
As of Sept. 4, Kazakh athletes had won 55 medals - 25 gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze. Kazakhstan competed in 31 of the 42 sports on the Games programme.
Kazakh athletes have won medals in audaryspak, qazaq kuresi, alysh, arm wrestling, sambo, tug of war, traditional archery, horse racing, hunting with birds of prey and other disciplines.
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Kazakhstan claims 12 gold medals on third day of World Nomad Games.
Images | MTS RK
Kazakhstan’s national team won 12 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals on the third day of competition at the VI World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Kazakh athletes claimed two gold medals and one bronze in audaryspak. In the under-100kg category, world champion and two-time Games winner Syrym Izbasarov defeated his Kyrgyz opponent to become a World Nomad Games champion for the third time. Daryn Otkelbay won gold in the under-90kg category, while Nurzhan Yerkinuly took bronze in the super-heavyweight division.
Kazakhstan won another four medals in kusbegilik, the traditional art of hunting with birds of prey. Serikbolsyn Zhalgasuly took gold with his hawk Zhebe. Arman Koshkarov, competing with his golden eagle Algyr, and Bakdaulet Babazhan with his falcon Ushkyr won silver medals, while Yerlan Kenzhetayev and his bird Akbalyk took bronze.
In sambo, Bolat Sapar won gold in the over-98kg category, while Yerkebulan Nygmetov and Zhandos Beisenbayev claimed bronze medals. Almas Zhumagali won silver in the over-100kg category in Kyrgyz kurosh.
Kazakhstan also took gold in the 4×4 tug-of-war event, defeating Iran in the final. A day earlier, the Kazakh team won the 8×8 event after beating Kyrgyzstan in the final.
Kazakhstan’s arm-wrestling team delivered a particularly strong performance, winning seven gold, four silver and one bronze medal. Nurdaulet Aidarkhan and Medet Kuttymuratov each claimed two gold medals, winning with both their right and left arms. Malena Sydykzhan also won two gold medals, while Danil Ustinov added another gold.
On September 4, Kazakh athletes will compete in 21 sports, including kokpar, kok-boru, alaman baige, Kazakh kuresi, togyzkumalak, zhamby atu, traditional archery, strongman and tazy racing.
The VI World Nomad Games have brought together 3,000 athletes from 113 countries. Kazakhstan is represented by 152 athletes competing across 43 sports.
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Kazakhstan wins gold and silver in hunting with birds of prey at World Nomad Games
Images | CSPE of the MTS RK
Kazakhstan’s national team won two medals in traditional hunting with birds of prey at the VI World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, the country’s Committee for Sports and Physical Culture said.
Kazakh athlete Serikbolsyn Zhalgasuly won gold in the hawk hunting competition, while Arman Koshkarov claimed silver in the golden eagle event.
The results marked another success for the Kazakh team and showcased the athletes’ skills in kusbegilik, the traditional art of hunting with trained birds of prey that has been passed down through generations.
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Seven Kazakh Women Enter World’s Top 100 Chess Rankings
Images | Instagram/kzchessfederation
Seven Kazakh women have been ranked among the world’s top 100 female chess players in FIDE’s September rankings, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation’s press service said.
Grandmaster Bibisara Assaubayeva remains fifth in the world with a rating of 2536. International Master Alua Nurman is ranked 22nd with a rating of 2455, while IM Meruert Kamalidenova is 37th with a rating of 2413.
The top 100 also includes:
58th - WGM Ksenia Balabayeva - 2384;
77th - WGM Liya Kurmangaliyeva - 2361;
83rd - WGM Amina Kairbekova - 2355;
94th - WIM Yelnaz Kaliakhmet - 2347.
For Ksenia Balabayeva and Yelnaz Kaliakhmet, this is their first appearance in the top 100. Balabayeva, 20, gained 59 rating points in a month, rising from 2325 to 2384 and moving straight into 58th place.
Kaliakhmet, 15, increased her rating by 43 points, from 2304 to 2347, and took 94th place.
Other Kazakh female chess players also improved their positions: Alua Nurman moved up from 24th to 22nd place, while Meruert Kamalidenova climbed from 46th to 37th.
Bibisara Assaubayeva has been awarded Kazakhstan’s Order of Barys, Second Class.
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Kazakhstan Wins First Two Gold Medals at World Nomad Games
Images | worldnomadgames.kz
Kazakhstan has won its first two gold medals at the 6th World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, with both titles coming in audaryspak, the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports said.
"In the under-60kg category, Nurtalap Kerim defeated an athlete from Kyrgyzstan in the final to become champion. In the under-70kg category, Sailau Mukhamedzhan also faced a Kyrgyz competitor in the final and secured a 2-1 victory. These were Kazakhstan’s first gold medals at this year’s Games," the ministry’s press service said.
The 6th World Nomad Games opened in Bishkek on Tuesday.
Background
Audaryspak is a traditional Kazakh equestrian sport that requires strength, agility, speed and courage as competitors wrestle while on horseback. More than 11,500 people in Kazakhstan currently practise the sport on a regular basis.
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