The main reason the team declined to participate is that the invitation from the organizers arrived too late. As Jumakadyrov noted, such tournaments require advance notice of at least three months, preferably six months before they begin.
This is not a boycott. It is simply impossible to prepare in such a short time. Time is needed to select horses, assemble a team of 12 players, appoint coaches, and conduct proper training.
Samat Jumakadyrov
Additionally, during the same dates, a major republican tournament "Nooruz-2026" will be held in Kyrgyzstan. As part of this event, the selection for the national team for participation in the World Nomad Games, which will take place this fall in Kyrgyzstan, will begin. The Kok-boru Federation noted that during this critical period, no team will be able to allocate the best players and horses for the trip to Kazakhstan.
The second World Championship in kok-boru will take place in Turkestan with the participation of athletes from ten countries. The tournament will feature only national teams, and the total prize fund of the competition will amount to 30 million tenge.
