ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s national equestrian team is completing final preparations in Tokyo ahead of its return to show jumping at the Asian Games after a 20-year absence, with four riders set to compete in the team and individual events at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Photo credit: Kazakhstan’s Equestrian Federation.
The Kazakhstan team includes Oleg Sokolenko, Raisa Sokolenko, Nurila Turisbekova and Ksenia Batalova. The competitions will be held at the JRA Equestrian Park in Tokyo.
Speaking ahead of the draw, Kazakhstan national team head coach and Master of Sport Azamat Khassenov said the riders were following their training program and gradually approaching competition, Kazakhstan’s Equestrian Federation reported on Sept. 28.
“After a 20-year break, Kazakhstan is represented at this level again, so this is a significant event for us. We want to represent the country and achieve a good result,” he said.
Khassenov said the team had adapted well to local conditions, with close attention paid to the condition of both the riders and horses. The upcoming draw will influence the team’s tactics, notably the order of performances and the opponents they will face.
Kazakhstan will compete in both the team and individual show jumping events. The team competition is scheduled for Oct. 1 and will feature two rounds followed by the medal ceremony. The individual competition will take place on Oct. 3 and 4. Obstacles will range from 145 to 155 centimeters in height, depending on the round.
