ASTANA – Kazakhstan claimed its first two gold medals at the sixth World Nomad Games in the Kyrgyz Republic, with Nurtalap Kerim and Sailau Mukhamedzhan winning titles in audaryspak, a traditional Kazakh horseback wrestling sport.
Photo credit: gov.kz
In the up to 60-kilogram category, Kerim defeated a Kyrgyz representative in the final to become champion. In the up to 70-kilogram category, Mukhamedzhan also faced a Kyrgyz athlete in the final and won 2-1.
The two victories marked Kazakhstan’s first gold medals at this year’s Games. More than 11,500 people in Kazakhstan regularly practice audaryspak, which combines horseback riding with wrestling and requires strength, agility, speed and courage.
The sixth World Nomad Games officially opened in Bishkek on Aug. 31, bringing together athletes from more than 100 countries. The Games run through Sept. 6, with competitions in Bishkek and the Issyk-Kul region.
The event follows the fifth World Nomad Games, which Kazakhstan hosted in Astana in September 2024. The six-day competition featured 21 sports and athletes from 89 countries, with Kazakhstan sending the largest delegation of 195 athletes. The Kazakh team topped the final medal standings with 112 medals, including 43 gold, 32 silver and 37 bronze.
The World Nomad Games bring together traditional sports and cultural heritage from nomadic civilizations, providing an international platform to preserve and promote these traditions.
