Kazakhstan Biathlon Results of 2023: New Achievements and Big Projects
International Events and Infrastructure
In March, Kazakhstan hosted the Youth and Junior World Championships in Shchuchinsk for the first time. About 600 athletes and coaches from 39 countries took part. Olle Dahlin, the President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), attended the opening ceremony. The "Qazsport" TV channel broadcasted the event live for the first time. During the championship, 8 countries created this new committee to develop biathlon in Asia. Manas Ussenov, the General Secretary of the Kazakhstan Biathlon Union, was chosen as the Chairman.For the 5th year in a row, the federation gave regional teams 100 pairs of skis, boots, poles, and more than 160 roller skis to support youth sport. A new regional federation also opened in Kostanay.
Coaching and Education
Head coach M. Sharanov, V. Zatula and M. Musulmanov finished the IBU Academy program. Famous German coach Gerald Honig joined the national team as a shooting coach and Vladimir Korolkevich from Slovenia became the head coach of the women's team. Also, students from Nazarbayev University organized sports psychology and nutrition seminars for junior athletes.
Kid's Sport: Grand Tour Biathlon
To promote biathlon in different regions, the federation started a new children's tournament format called Grand Tour Biathlon. It has 4 winter and 2 summer stages. The first stage took place in Ridder, and the second will happen in Aksay in January 2024. The best young athletes in the total rating will travel to international camps in Norway and Slovenia.
Sports Achievements and Youth Olympic Games
Winter Universiade 2023: Vadim Kurales and Bekentay Turlubek won gold medals, and Alexandr Mukhin won bronze. Our team took 4 out of the top 5 places in the 10 km sprint race.
Vadim Kurales took second place at the Junior IBU Cup in Italy, and Alexandr Mukhin finished in the top 30 at the World Cup. Kazakhstan rose to 13th place in the Nations Cup ranking. Based on national cup results, I. Khasenov, K. Zotov, A. Redkin, A. Karabayeva, M. Vorobyeva, and E. Mezentseva won tickets to the Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea.
Plans for 2024
In the new year, the youth team will start with the Olympic Games in South Korea. From March 10 to 20, Shchuchinsk will host the Asian Biathlon Championship for the first time, with about 150 athletes. Also, a new children's biathlon section will open in Astana and the IBU Academy training program for coaches will take place in Kazakhstan for the first time.
