Kokpar returns to Kazakhstan with changed rulesCEFR B1
12 Oct 2025
Adapted from Vlast.kz, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Ivan Oleynikov, Unsplash
Kokpar has deep roots in Central Asia and is now returning to public life in Kazakhstan. The revival is led by local organisers, social media and cultural tourism. Daniyar Daukey runs a kokpar club and posts highlights to more than 50,000 followers. He shortened the field, reduced teams from four to three players and chose hay goals rather than concrete to make the game safer and more popular.
Danger remains part of the sport: concussions, trampling and high-speed collisions happen often. In Kyrgyzstan a player died earlier this year, the third such fatality in seven years. Anthropologist Ulan Bigozhin says the game became more aggressive since Soviet times and that larger horses make it more intense. He notes Kyrgyz players have been reluctant to add many safety rules.
Organisers want more international exposure. Foreign players tried kokpar in 2017, and in 2019 Daukey and teammates performed in Fontainebleau, France, before 17,000 spectators, but funding for tours is still a challenge.
Difficult words
- game — An activity played for fun or competition.
- tradition — A long-established custom or belief.traditions
- players — People who take part in a game.
- sport — Physical activities with rules and competition.
- safety — Condition of being protected from harm.
- community — A group of people living together.
- efforts — Actions taken to achieve a goal.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What do you think about balancing tradition and modernity in sports?
- How can local businesses support traditional games?
- Why is it important for cultures to share their traditions with the world?
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