Asia-Plus’s reporter says Tajik athletes secured two additional bronze medals on the fourth day of the Fifth World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.
In the Kazakh national wrestling competition, Tajik athlete Hamroz Rajabov took third place. Additionally, the Tajik men's team won a bronze medal in the Kazakh national game "Asyk Atu" (a traditional game played with knucklebones) and received a prize of 1 million tenge (over US$2,000).
Tajik athletes also participated in other events, including Alysh (Kyrgyz national wrestling), tug-of-war, and Powerful Nomad.
Kazakhstan’s national sports team continues to lead the medal count at the World Nomad Games, with 58 medals. Kyrgyzstan holds second place in the overall standings, followed by Russia in third. Uzbekistan, Iran, Mongolia, and Hungary follow. The Tajikistan team with four bronze medals currently ranks 14th among 89 teams.
At a briefing held by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Tourism and Sports, it was reported that over 100,000 foreign tourists have attended the games. Officials noted that this "will help showcase Kazakhstan's cultural and sports heritage to a global audience, significantly boosting interest in tourism to the country."
The Ethno Village at the event attracted considerable attention from foreign media and visitors. It was divided into several zones, including a central square, a children's playground for national games, a tent for folk music, a museum of nomadic civilizations, sports events, national cuisine, a main stage, and a special area showcasing the ethnic characteristics of different regions, along with artisans and an oriental market.
The 5th World Nomad Games kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony at Astana Arena, celebrating the rich heritage and enduring spirit of nomadic peoples on September 8. Kazakhstan’s media reports say the event brought together over 89 countries, with athletes and cultural ambassadors showcasing traditional clothing and waving their national flags. The World Nomad Games have reportedly grown into the largest event dedicated to traditional sports, attracting the participation of over 2,500 athletes. The games feature 97 medal sets across 21 sports, with 581 medals up for grabs. The total prize fund of the 5th World Nomad Games is 250 million tenge (US$518,000).
The World Nomad Games are international sports competitions in ethnic sports. The competition is based on folk games of historically nomadic peoples of Central Asia. The Games are aimed at the development of ethno-sports and ethno-cultural movement as a heritage of human civilization.
The World Nomad Games are included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
