Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports Reveals Hopes for Paris Olympics
With three months to go until the start of the Olympic Games in Paris, Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports, Yermek Marzhikpayev, has shared his expectations for Kazakh athletes. The Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports has reported that Kazakh athletes have secured 51 licenses for the upcoming Games.
Marzhikpayev highlighted the challenges that Kazakh athletes have faced in securing licenses, noting that for the first time in history, women wrestlers and weightlifters from Kazakhstan were left without a license. Despite these challenges, he emphasized the progress that Kazakhstan has made in new sports, such as shooting and archery, where the country has obtained a significant number of licenses.
The leading sports in Kazakhstan remain boxing, tennis, and wrestling. Last month, Kazakh athletes secured 43 licenses across 14 sports for the Olympic Games in Paris. Since then, the Kazakh national cycling team has obtained the 51st Olympic license, earning the right to compete in keirin and sprint.
Some of the standout achievements of Kazakh athletes include Elzhana Taniyeva securing a gold medal at the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship, earning a pass to Paris. Additionally, the Kazakh taekwondo team has qualified for the Olympics with two athletes, Samirkhon Ababakirov and Batyrkhan Toleugali, securing a quota in the weight category up to 80 kilograms.
The men’s fencing team also made history by securing a license for the Olympics for the first time, while Aigerim Sarybay from the women’s fencing team won an Olympic license at a tournament in the United Arab Emirates. The latest Paralympic license was obtained by Zhanyl Baltabayeva at the World Para Canoe Championship in Hungary.
Overall, Kazakh athletes are gearing up for the Olympic Games in Paris with high hopes and determination to showcase their talent on the international stage. With a strong lineup and a range of sports represented, Kazakhstan is poised to make its mark at the upcoming Games.
