The meeting between the Akim of Shymkent, Gabit Syzdykbekov, and the President of the Kazakhstan Athletics Federation, Olga Rypakova, along with the President of the National Cycling Federation, Raimbek Batalov, was dedicated not only to discussing the development of sports.
The meeting took place on May 2 in Shymkent, a city that stands as one of Kazakhstan’s leading centres for athletics. At present, the Central Stadium named after Kazhymukan Munaitpasov is undergoing a large-scale renovation. Once the stadium is brought up to international standards, it will not only become a realistic venue for hosting major international athletics competitions, but it also has the potential to become a kind of “Mecca” for Kazakh athletics — especially considering the region’s favourable climate.
However, the discussions at the Shymkent akimat went beyond sports infrastructure and general sports development. The city’s leader highlighted the achievements of local athletes who are making their mark both in Kazakhstan and on prestigious international stages. Among those congratulated by Akim Gabit Syzdykbekov were track and field athletes Polina Kuzubova and Akbilek Kuralbay.
Polina Kuzubova is 17 years old. In January, she took first place in the indoor pentathlon at the national youth championship in Astana. She then went on to win a gold medal in the heptathlon at the 6th Asian Youth Championships, which were recently held in April in Dammam, a city in Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf.
Akbilek Kuralbay, 20, claimed a silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2023 Asian Junior Championships in South Korea. In 2025, she placed second in the 3000m twice — first in January at the Kazakhstan Indoor Cup in Astana, and again on March 1 in Ust-Kamenogorsk at the 10th International Olga Rypakova Invitational.
Now, as they say, the Akim of Shymkent knows Akbilek Kuralbay and Polina Kuzubova by face.
In the photo: Akbilek Kuralbay and Polina Kuzubova at the meeting with the Akim of Shymkent.
