Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina has commented on reaching No. 1 in the WTA rankings after defeating Qinwen Zheng in the 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinal. She admitted to experiencing strong tension during the match but said she doesn’t want to attach much importance to her new status for now. Rybakina…
Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina (World No. 2) has commented on the possibility of becoming the WTA world No. 1 for the first time in her career. After advancing to the 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinals, one more victory will be enough for Rybakina to move past Aryna Sabalenka and become…
Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina defeated Japan’s Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the 2026 U.S. Open quarterfinals. She needs just one more win in New York to become the WTA world No. 1. Meanwhile, Alexander Bublik, who was playing doubles with China’s Shang Juncheng, withdrew from the tournament.…
The dramatic dispute over the medal standings at the 6th World Nomad Games ended with Kazakhstan being recognized as the overall winner. The organizing committee in Kyrgyzstan recounted the medals and acknowledged the Kazakh team as the tournament’s champion. Askat Alagozov, press secretary to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, made an…
Shavkat Rakhmonov, a well-known UFC fighter from Kazakhstan, considers himself the most serious opponent for UFC welterweight (77 kg) champion Islam Makhachev from Dagestan, Russia. In an interview with ALF Global, he said that he is «Islam’s most serious opponent,» admitting that Makhachev is the most serious opponent for him,…
World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka said she does not pay much attention to the scenarios in the race for the top spot in the WTA rankings. The Belarusian could lose the No. 1 ranking to Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina (World No. 2) at the end of the 2026 U.S.…
Australian tennis player (ATP World No. 918) Nick Kyrgios tested positive for cocaine after playing at the ATP 250 Mallorca Championships in late June and had been provisionally suspended since Aug. 4. He is now eligible to return to competition after accepting a one-month suspension, the BBC reported. The 2022…
The 2026-27 UEFA Conference League draw took place in Monaco. Kairat Almaty was drawn in Pot 4 and will face Atalanta of Italy, Panathinaikos of Greece, Twente of the Netherlands, Universitatea Craiova of Romania, Mjällby of Sweden and Riga of Latvia. Panathinaikos, Universitatea Craiova and Mjällby will travel to Kazakhstan,…
Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the mixed doubles event at the 2026 U.S. Open after an injury ended her bid to become world No. 1. In the latest WTA rankings, released today, Rybakina remained No. 2, behind Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. Had Rybakina reached the Cincinnati final, she…
The 2026 U.S. Open organizing committee has announced a record prize pool for the year’s final Grand Slam. The total prize pool for the New York major stands at $108 million, 20% higher than the previous record of $90 million set at the 2025 U.S. Open. The men’s and women’s…
Kazakhstan’s top-ranked tennis player Elena Rybakina (World No. 2) beat American Coco Gauff (World No. 4) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals of the Canadian Open. Rybakina had faced Gauff only once before — also in Toronto, in 2022. In their second-round meeting, Rybakina lost to the then-18-year-old American 4-6,…
Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina (World No. 2) commented on the possibility of closing the gap on World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA rankings. After advancing to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto, Rybakina still has a chance to cut Sabalenka’s lead to just four…
Baktybai Alpamysov, the father of Kazakh UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, has died at the age of 65. According to Vesti.kz, he died on Aug. 2. A source close to the athlete’s team confirmed the information to the outlet. The news initially emerged after a social media post announced a memorial…
The Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF) has named Dutch manager John van ‘t Schip as the new head coach of Kazakhstan’s national team. The federation said it had reached an agreement with the 62-year-old Dutch manager. His appointment will be reviewed by the KFF Executive Committee in the coming days, after…
Paris Saint-Germain announced the opening of a PSG Academy in Kazakhstan. The football training center will open in Astana in September 2026 and is expected to welcome around 300 young footballers in its inaugural season. Kazakhstan will become the 24th country to join the Parisian club’s international network of academies.…
Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has praised Dastan Satpayev’s performance following the Kazakhstani forward’s first goal for the London club. The Spanish coach highlighted the 17-year-old’s speed, physicality and movement. «I knew Dastan from last year, from Almaty, and you see that he is a different player. He is a…
Kazakhstan’s 17-year-old footballer Dastan Satpayev scored his first goal for Chelsea as Xabi Alonso‘s side beat Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4 in the opening exhibition match of the club’s Australia and Asia tour. Chelsea’s starting lineup for its first preseason friendly, aside from the training-ground friendlies, could be considered experimental. The…
Kazakh mixed martial artist Shavkat Rakhmonov will not be able to compete in the UFC until the end of 2026. According to his coach, Eduard Bazrov, Rakhmonov is not expected to be ready to return before February 2027. Rakhmonov is still recovering from a leg injury and is training once…
Kazakhstan’s forward Dastan Satpayev has been included in Chelsea’s traveling squad for the club’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia. The London club named a 27-man traveling squad. Satpayev is one of the forwards alongside Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, João Pedro and Estêvão. The traveling squad also includes…
In extra time of the FIFA 2026 World Cup final, Spain beat Argentina 1-0 to become world champions for the second time, 16 years after their first title. 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, July 19, East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium Spain vs Argentina extra time: 1-0 (0-0) Goal: Ferran…
U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States should seek to host another FIFA World Cup on its own rather than alongside Canada and Mexico, and suggested China could serve as a future co-host. According to the Associated Press, Trump made the remarks during a meeting with FIFA President Gianni…
For the first time in history, all World Cup champions will receive individual rings from FIFA, according to the governing body’s official website. Replica rings will also be available for sale. The initiative is based on a tradition in American professional sports leagues such as the NHL, NBA, NFL and…
The second finalist of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be determined on July 15 as Argentina takes on England in Atlanta. The winner will face Spain in the final after it defeated France 2-0 in the first semifinal on July 14. While the first semifinal was a rematch of…
Spain’s national football team winger Lamine Yamal shared his expectations ahead of the 2026 World Cup semifinal against France. Yamal turned 19 the day before one of the tournament’s biggest matches. The footballer spent his birthday with the Spain squad. The day began with a training session before he stepped…
