The Uly Dala Zhorygy international baige marathon has started in
Kazakhstan. The riders will have to overcome a distance of 500 kilometres, with
the route starting from the Botai settlement in the north of the country and ending in Astana. The
competition features eight foreign teams from South Africa, Iran, Türkiye, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, and Hungary, as well as nine Kazakh teams, including two women teams.
«I feel good, and I have a well-prepared horse. The opponents are really strong. I have been a member of the Tomiris team for a long time. My horse
has already covered long distances many times and become the winner of numerous competitions,» said horse rider Symbat Mataikyzy.
«We are participants from Almaty and we intend to be the first in the marathon. Our horses
are well-prepared. There was a selection in spring, and we have already
covered 500 kilometres and won the third place. The team members are all determined to win and ready to demonstrate their riding skills.
We think we will win,» said horse rider Meirbek Alimbek.
According to the organizers, the international
baige marathon is also aimed at reviving and promoting the forgotten Kazakh horse breeds, including Adai, Naiman, Kushum, and Auliye Ata. It is worth noting that the
winners of the baige marathon will take part in the opening ceremony of the fifth World Nomad Games on
September 8 in Astana.
«This year, the baige marathon is being held at the international level for the first time. We intend to make it a tradition, and I think our intention will come to fruition. For the third consecutive year, Kazakhstan's National Sports Association has been supporting the baige marathon. We hope the competitions will be held at a high level. We wish good luck to our riders who are representing the country,» said Islambek Salzhanov, President of Kazakhstan's National Sports Association.
