The regional togyzkumalak championship among men, women and veterans is being held in Karaganda. 160 athletes are fighting for the victory.
Among the participants of the competition are two international-class masters of sports, ten masters of sports and thirty candidates for masters of sports.
Now this national sport is very popular, says Saule Karatai, senior coach of the Karaganda region for togyzkumalak.
– According to rough estimates, currently about 15 thousand schoolchildren are fond of playing togyzkumalak. The game is popularized in schools and yard clubs. There are also many competitions of different levels in togyzkumalak. For example, in February, Aktobe will host the Kazakhstan togyzkumalak Championship among men and women in classics. And in April, the blitz and rapid championships will be held in Karaganda. The Asian Championship will be held in Tashkent, and the World Championship in Pardubice (Czech Republic). There will also be a school championship in China this year," Saule Karatai said.
Athletes from 14 to 75 years old take part in the Karaganda region championship. Some of them have been fighting for victory in different age categories for generations.
For example, 70-year-old Yulia Falik came to the competition with her grandson.
– I've been playing togyzkumalak myself since 1980. At that time, I was working as a senior teacher at a pioneer camp, where Baltabai Kaskarbayev, a togyzkumalak champion, was the director. And so, after lights out, he gathered tutors, counselors and taught them how to play togyzkumalak. Actually, I am a teacher of labor and drawing by profession, but now I work with children as a togyzkumalak coach. I have 12 children studying, and I have six students who no longer train with me, but come to competitions. I also train my grandchildren. The eldest is already an adult, he got married. But the younger one is here now, competing," says the athlete.
The results of the regional competitions will be announced on January 14.
It is noteworthy that this championship is the first major event that takes place in the sports complex of the Kairat National Sports School after renovation. The building was put in order last year: it was insulated and faced from the outside, the gym, showers were repaired and the heating system was updated.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/karaganda/press/news/details/915338