Kazakhstan Wins First Asian Kokpar Championship

The Kazakhstan national kokpar team won the first Asian Championship held at the Kazanat racecourse in Astana from Sept. 10 to 15.

Kokpar is an ancient equestrian sport similar to polo, in which teams on horseback try to advance an object toward a goal. Instead of using a ball, kokpar players try to advance a headless goat carcass. The player’s task is to grab the goat carcass from the ground and push or throw it into the goal of the opposing team.

Nine national teams from Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Turkey, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan competed in the multi-day event. Kazakhstan beat Kyrgyzstan 4:2 in the final game to take the championship.

The championship aims to preserve kokpar as part of the rich cultural heritage of the peoples in Eurasia. The game has been regaining popularity in the late 1990s.

The teams were divided into two groups. Tajikistan and China took second place in their groups and battled each other for third place overall. Tajikistan claimed the bronze medal with a 3-0 victory.

Organizers hope to hold the Asian Championship every two years and to promote kokpar in Europe and the Americas. The next tournament will be held in Turkey.

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