Shchuchinsk to host IBU Youth & Junior Biathlon World Championships

From March 4 to 12, 2023, the National Ski Centre in Shchuchinsk will host the IBU Youth & Junior Biathlon World Championships, reports the Kazakhstan Biathlon Union (KBU).

The strongest young biathletes in the world will compete for the title of World Champion in 18 races in 5 different disciplines. It is expected that over 800 athletes from more than 50 countries will participate in the Championship.

“This is the first time we are hosting an event of this scale in Kazakhstan. In 2018, the National Ski Centre in Shchuchinsk was opened, which has passed the International Biathlon Union (IBU) certification. As a result, it received an A category license, which allows it to host the largest international competitions. Having hosted the Open Asian Championship this year, we tested the Centre’s readiness to welcome other large events. Hosting the Youth & Junior World Championships is an important milestone in the history of biathlon in Kazakhstan. We believe that this event will give an impulse to the development of children’s and youth sports in our country”, said the President of the Kazakhstan Biathlon Union Yermek Kizatov.

The Kazakhstan junior team will be decided after the Kazakhstan Cup in December, which will also take place in Shchuchinsk.

The event will be hosted with support from the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akmola region akimat, and the Kazakhstan Biathlon Union.