A TOGYZKUMALAK TOURNAMENT HAS STARTED AT AMANZHOLOV UNIVERSITY

Today, in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, the ceremonial opening of the Republican Toguzkumalak Tournament among juniors and veterans took place, dedicated to the memory of the outstanding Turkologist and scholar Sarsen Amanzholov.

The event, which brought together 10 teams and 90 athletes from various regions of Kazakhstan, became a significant occasion in preserving national cultural heritage and promoting this intellectual sport.

The opening ceremony began with a parade of participating teams representing the Abai, Karaganda, and Pavlodar regions, as well as the cities of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semey, and Ridder, along with the Katon-Karagai, Tarbagatai, Ulan, and Bolshenarym districts.

In her welcoming remarks, Zhanneta Kalimoldina, Vice-Rector for Educational and Social Work at Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University, emphasized the deep connection between the great scholar’s name and the game to which the tournament is dedicated.
“Sarsen Amanzholov was not only a philologist but also one of the first researchers of toguzkumalak. In 1936, he published the first book in Central Asia about this game, studying it from linguistic and ethnographic perspectives. Holding this tournament is a tribute to his legacy and a contribution to preserving our national traditions,” noted Zhanneta Kalimoldina.

A special moment of the ceremony was the awarding of veteran athlete Amanzhol Bidelmanov with the badge ‘Togyzkumalak Contributor.’ The award was presented to the champion of the Republic of Kazakhstan on behalf of the President of the Togyzkumalak Federation of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Baymenov.

The competition became not only a sporting event but also an important step in preserving the cultural code of the nation, uniting scientific heritage, national traditions, and the modern sports movement.