Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, December 17, 2019: The Order of Kurmet, the highest state award in Kazakhstan, was awarded to six athletes and coaches, to mark Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan, last week. The President of the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan, Timur Kulibayev, presented the Order of Kurmet – ‘ErenEnbegi Ushin’ – to three athletes and three coaches. The three athletes are: figure skater Elizabet Tursynbayeva, freestyle wrestler Amangeldi Gabsattarov and water polo’s Lee Smoleev. The three coaches are: Bolat Abdrakhmanov, national boxing coach, karate junior national coach Shattyk Kazhymukan and national archery coach Grigoriy Kim. NOC President Kulibayev said: “It is a great honour for me to present state awards on behalf of the President of our country. We are proud of the achievements of our athletes in the world arena. They defend the honour of our country, winning victories at the highest international level and, as always, delight their fans. In 2020, we will support all our athletes at all qualifying events and at the Tokyo Olympics.” Archery coach Kim said: “It’s very unexpected and I’m proud that I won this award. I am the first archery coach to get this award. I’m also proud for archery and it will motivate us to work harder.” Silver medallist at the World Figure Skating Championships, Tursynbayeva said: “This is a great honour. I can say that it is an additional motivation, an impetus to even greater achievements.” The team managers of table tennis and shooting, Karlygash Ishkenbayeva and Galina Korchma, respectively, received the honorary diploma of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan honours its top athletes and coaches with Order of Kurmet
