Kazakhstan’s first Open Asian Falconry Cup showcases ancient hunting heritage

Loading the video No Comment Video. Kazakhstan’s first Open Asian Falconry Cup showcases ancient hunting heritage Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 13/10/2026 - 13:46 GMT+2 Kazakhstan hosted its first Open Asian Falconry Cup on 9 and 10 October in Bozanbay, a village in the country's east, bringing together 176 falconers from 10 countries. Golden eagles, hawks and saker falcons featured in traditional hunting contests at the inaugural Open Asian Falconry Cup, the main competition of the fifth Shygys Salburyny International Festival. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Participants came from Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Russia, China, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Spain and Hungary. Around 15,000 spectators attended the two-day event, which also featured sighthound races, the taming of unbroken horses, mounted archery, the horseback coin-picking contest, known as "tenge ilu", tug of war and other traditional strength contests. The festival celebrates qusbegilik, Kazakhstan's centuries-old tradition of hunting with trained birds of prey. Golden eagle hunters, known as "berkutchi", demonstrated their skills alongside other falconers. Serikbolsyn Zhalgasuly from the Zhambyl Region won the golden eagle competition, while Zaki Makhmudkhan took the hawk title and Temirali Tolegenuly won the saker falcon event. Organisers hope the international competition will promote Kazakhstan's hunting heritage and encourage wider recognition of these traditions. Kazakhstan Birds Hunting Tradition Central Asia Competition Top stories Now playing Next Kazakhstan’s first Open Asian Falconry Cup showcases ancient hunting heritage Now playing Next Russia pounds Kharkiv and Lviv region with missiles and drones, killing three civilians Now playing Next Pakistan: Passenger train derailment kills at least five, injures more than 30 Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 13th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next Emergency call about Christa Pike’s botched execution released Now playing Next Ceuta awaits King Felipe after summer migration crisis Now playing Next US actress Selma Blair arrested after in-flight altercation Now playing Next Hochvogel mountain at risk of major rockslide Now playing Next Fire totally destroys oldest covered food market in Paris Now playing Next Spain national day: 4,380 troops and 82 aircraft take part in parade Now playing Next Trump claims Ukraine-Russia energy ceasefire as Baltics stay on alert Now playing Next Nepal orders evacuations after landslide triggers Budhi Gandaki flash flood Now playing Next EU ends anti-corruption funding curbs on Hungary, freeing €4.2bn Now playing Next EU sovereignty is ‘a need’ in the space, Sateliot CEO says Now playing Next Europe Today: NATO warns Russia amid escalating hybrid attacks from Moscow Now playing Next US theme park operator Six Flags shuts nine roller coasters after man dies ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Belgium: 9 minors arrested as clashes erupt near Brussels-Midi No Comment Spain: National Day highlights territorial unity from Barcelona to Ceuta No Comment Paris’s oldest covered food market gutted by major overnight fire No Comment Tens of thousands march in Brussels demanding urgent climate action Europe Today 'People survive on one meal a day': Oleshky official warns against giving Russia more territory Europe News At least 11 missing after two ships struck off Bulgaria in latest Black Sea attack, official says Cinema ‘We’re not waiting anymore’: Media mogul Mo Abudu opens a new hub for African cinema in London Culture news RJ Mitte, 'Breaking Bad' actor and disability rights champion, dies at age 34 Health news Can AI help healthcare move from treatment to prevention? Economy Citroën's iconic 2CV returns as an all-electric model Europe News French investigators use DNA and vehicle tracking to solve stolen Renoirs case Europe News NATO commander unveils strategy to make any attack on alliance ‘utterly futile’ ADVERTISEMENT Tech News Greece's social media ban for under-15s: What you need to know Cult Explore the patterns of Qatar’s visual identity and architectural language Business Gijs de Best urges shared enforcement to curb illicit trade Smart Regions Agios Efstratios: the first Greek island to get all its electricity from renewables Europe News Ukraine passes minority rights law, paving way for breakthrough in EU accession talks Europe News Video shows major fire ravaging 400-year-old Paris food market Europe News What we know about Pope Leo XIV's upcoming operation to remove lung nodule Europe News As drones reshape warfare, Lithuania brings them into the classroom ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT