Aynura lives in the village of Kuturgu, located in the Tyup district of the Issyk-Kul region. Over the past few years, she has established herself as one of the leading athletes, achieving high results in archery at regional, national, and international tournaments. However, her successes are not limited to personal achievements — she actively shares her knowledge with children, aiming to awaken their interest in Kyrgyz traditional games.
Aynura was born on September 8, 1987, in the village of Sary-Kamysh, which is in the Ak-Suu district. After completing her schooling, she enrolled at a university in Karakol, where she earned a degree in physical education. During her student years, she got married and began her career in the Talas region. “After graduating, my husband and I moved to Talas, where he started working, and I got a job at the city sports committee. Four years later, we returned to Kuturgu, where I work as a coach at the Salikh Ismaev Secondary School and at the sports school,” Aynura shares.
An important aspect of Aynura's work is the preservation and development of Kyrgyz national games. She teaches children arm wrestling, known as “kol kuresh,” which is one of the most important traditional sports disciplines. “Arm wrestling is our national sport. I strive to popularize it among the youth. I am glad that my students are achieving success — they take second and third places at world championships, and at the Asian Games, our girls win medals,” she says.
Two years ago, Aynura started practicing archery and has since been actively teaching it to children. “At the coaches' competitions, this sport was introduced for the first time. Despite it being my first experience, I took first place, which inspired me to develop in this direction. Now I teach it to children, and they are also showing excellent results,” she continues.
Training sessions take place three times a week for two hours, but in winter, certain difficulties arise due to a lack of facilities for practice. “We need quality bows and targets. Hand bows do not provide the necessary range, so we have to order them from abroad. For example, I bought a bow in South Korea for 35,000 soms. Additionally, one arrow costs 450 soms, and in winter they are often lost in the snow, making it difficult to train during that time,” Aynura reported.
Aynura emphasizes that archery requires not only physical strength but also proper technique. “Once, I pulled the string too hard, and it broke, hitting me in the face with the arrow. This incident taught me the importance of controlling strength. You need to hold the bow correctly, monitor your posture, and accurately calculate your movements,” she notes.
There have also been memorable moments in her career. “At one of the regional tournaments, I had to compete against a police officer who was excellent at shooting with a pistol. I thought I had no chance, but to my surprise, I won by a narrow margin. This competition will forever remain in my memory,” the coach recounts.
Sometimes, Aynura uses her bow not only for competitions but also for solving everyday problems. “In our village, stray dogs are often encountered. Once, one of them was threatening, and I had to shoot to scare it away. The arrow hit its paw, and it never returned. This showed that a bow is not only a sports tool but also useful in everyday life,” she shares.
Aynura and her husband are raising three children — two sons and a daughter. “My daughter often accompanies me to competitions, and I have also started training my sons,” she says.
Currently, Aynura is mastering archery from horseback. She believes that this skill connects traditions and sports, maintaining a link with the history of her ancestors. Her aspiration is to continue developing Kyrgyz national games and inspire the new generation to preserve the cultural heritage of the country.
