As part of the Republic Day celebrations, the final of the second republican tournament "Respublica Asyq Atu" took place in Shymkent. This is the country's largest competition in one of Kazakhstan's oldest national sports, asyk atu.

This year, the tournament brought together 40 of the strongest players from all regions of the country. This large-scale sporting event united athletes, spectators, and distinguished guests, turning into a true celebration of national spirit and unity.

In addition to the final games, spectators were treated to a concert program and master classes in national sports, which attracted the interest of thousands of city residents and visitors.

Chairman of the Asyk Atu Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and member of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Kuspekov, opening the tournament, noted the importance of preserving and promoting national traditions:

"Through the game of asyk, we return to our roots, the spiritual code, and traditions of our people. Asyk atu is the beginning of all national sports. Its history goes back centuries and is closely linked to the way of life of the Kazakh people. Today's tournament proves that national sport is a national treasure. We strive to develop asyk atu not only as a tradition, but also as a modern cultural phenomenon that unites society. After all, national sport is not just a trend; it is a reflection of the spirit, character, and patriotism of the nation," emphasized Olzhas Kuspekov.

Following a tense final battle, Kulubek Garyshbek, an athlete from the Aktobe region, emerged victorious and was awarded a car produced by a domestic company.

Second place went to Abilkhan Talgar, an athlete from the Turkestan region, who received a cash prize of 1 million tenge.
Third place went to Slamkul Bakdaulet, a representative of the West Kazakhstan region, who was awarded a cash prize of 500 thousand tenge.

In addition, a special prize of 300 thousand tenge from the AMANAT party was awarded to Zhazdykbai Kerim, an athlete from the Pavlodar region.

The semi-finals and finals demonstrated the high level of skill of the participants and the increased interest of young people in national sports.

The choice of Shymkent as the final venue was no coincidence. Last year, athletes from this region demonstrated outstanding results, and the grand prize of the inaugural tournament was also won by a representative from Shymkent. Therefore, in 2025, Shymkent was officially recognized as the host city of the "Respublica Asyq Atu" tournament.

This event confirmed the region’s significant contribution to the development of national sports.

The tournament in Shymkent once again proved that asyk atu is not just an ancient game, but an important element of cultural heritage, capable of uniting generations and regions of the country.

"Respublica Asyq Atu" has given new impetus to the popularization of this ancient sport, transforming it into a modern mass movement that promotes the preservation of national traditions and the strengthening of the patriotic spirit.