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Known as the “Great Gathering on the Steppe,” this event features a range of traditional competitions, including horseback wrestling and eagle hunting.
Known as the “Great Gathering on the Steppe,” this event features a range of traditional competitions, including horseback wrestling and eagle hunting.
One of this year’s highlights was the kokpar final, in which Kazakhstan narrowly defeated its arch-rival Kyrgyzstan.
involves players competing to place a goat-shaped rubber dummy into the opposing team’s goal. While the dummy weighs about 25 kilograms, the actual goat carcass used in traditional play can weigh up to 40 kilograms.
With 3,000 athletes from 89 countries, the event showcased the rich history of the steppe, blending ancient customs with the modern world.