Company

Zhitikara Tournament 2026

Faster, Higher, Stronger: XXI Kusto Group Tournament in Zhitikara and the Lessons We Must Learn

For a few days, Zhitikara (Kostanay region) once again became the sporting capital of the Kusto Group holding. The large-scale XXI Tournament in memory of Yerzhan Tatishev kicked off at the welcoming venues of JSC "Kostanay Minerals". While this event draws hundreds of employees under its banners every year, this time, the emotional intensity and the athletes' level of preparation exceeded all expectations.

The competition program was more intense and diverse than ever – the holding’s finest athletes put their skills to the test in 14 different sports. Over several days, fierce battles raged across the sports grounds: from classic and widely loved mini-football and volleyball to intellectual showdowns in the "Quiz", high-speed cycling, tennis, and track-and-field multi-event.

Our KAZPETROL GROUP team, competing at the Tournament as an independent squad for only the second year, displayed true grit, an iron will to win, and the ability to hold their ground in the most stressful moments. However, the Tournament is not just a reason to take pride in won trophies, but also an excellent opportunity to run an honest, deep analysis so that next time we return to the arena even stronger and better prepared.

Our Triumphs: Where We Had No Equal

In a number of key disciplines, the KAZPETROL GROUP team demonstrated absolute dominance, making our rivals quite nervous from the very first minutes of the tournament. Just like last year, we literally swept the podium in intellectual and tactical sports, proving our masterclass.

·         Pure Gold: We claimed first place in billiards, table tennis, and chess. A source of special pride was our victories in traditional and highly spectator-friendly sports–toğyz qumalaq and sadaq atu (archery). Here, our athletes demonstrated Olympic-level composure and pinpoint accuracy.

·         A Step Away from the Top: The team secured silver medals (2nd place) in the most massive, emotional, and captivating team sports–volleyball and mini-football. The final matches kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last seconds, with the field literally burning with passion!

·         A Consistently Strong Result: Our team fought hard to secure 3rd place and bronze medals in the grueling track-and-field multi-event, as well as in the intellectual clash "Quiz", where the podium positions were decided by sheer erudition and speed of reaction.

Identifying Growth Zones: Analyzing the Results

Success in sports is always the result of continuous, systematic effort. Our ultimate goal is to top the overall standings and take home the main gold of the Tournament. To achieve this, however, we must take an objective look at our current results: in some disciplines, we still lag behind our competitors, and these areas demand our utmost attention.

As of today, the key growth zones for our team remain:

·         Swimming and tennis (disciplines that require regular technical practice and consistent access to courts and pools);

·         Track-and-field multi-event (which includes running, long jump, a run, and shot put–here we need to build systematic physical endurance);

·         Basketball and rifle shooting.

A Word from the Leaders: Executive Reflections

General Director Yerzhan Tazabekov shared his thoughts on the sports festival and the unique atmosphere of the tournament:

"The Tournament has once again become a true celebration of sports, genuine friendship, and strong team spirit. KAZPETROL GROUP is competing as a separate team for the second year, and this is already a major milestone for us.

On behalf of the entire company, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the management and staff of the 'Kostanay Minerals' plant for an incredibly warm welcome and impeccable organization of the games. A big thank you for your hospitality and attention to every single detail – we felt right at home.

Special words of gratitude go out to our team. Our colleagues demonstrated true sportsmanship, unity, and an iron will to win. It is particularly pleasing that our athletes won first place in several highly challenging disciplines, representing our company with honor at the holding level. Such gatherings strengthen our partnership, preserve good traditions, and inspire us to reach new heights in business.

And I cannot fail to mention Viktor Kim – he acted as a true archery master at this Tournament, teaching the finer points of the craft to almost all the athletes, and not just from our company! We even joked in the corridors that Viktor was more popular these days than the Board of Directors' reports and the acclaimed champions!"

Daulet Batyrzhan, GR Director:

"Just like last year, KAZPETROL GROUP confidently defeated their opponents and took first place in billiards, table tennis, toğyz qumalaq, chess, and sadaq atu. We also secured second place in volleyball and football, and third place in the multi-event and quiz. This is an excellent result; we have proven our strength. But to improve and climb to the very top, we need systematic, year-round preparation. Athletic form and team chemistry take time, which is why preparing for such serious competitions must be a continuous process. The team's potential is massive, and now it is all about regular training!"

Strength in Unity and Support

Any great victory is forged not only on the sports field but far beyond it. The KAZPETROL GROUP team expresses its sincere and deep gratitude for the all-around support to our leadership: The General Director, Financial Director, and GR Director. Your personal faith in the team, attention to the athletes' needs, and provision of all necessary conditions are our primary motivation to move forward.

A special and massive thank you goes to the people who took on the colossal task of organizing, uniting the team, and putting all their energy into the preparation:

·         Head of the Capital Construction Department, Viktor Kim – for his active role in training, mentorship, and enormous personal contribution;

·         Team Captain, Madi Bekenov – for true leadership, coordination, and an unyielding team spirit;

·         Asel, Nurlan, and Almas – for their sincere dedication to the common cause, organizational work, and top-tier preparation of the squad.

And, of course, a deep bow to our players who selflessly fought for every inch of the court, every ball, and every single point: Daniyar, Nurzhan, Daurenbek, Yryskeldy, Timur, Bakhytzhan, Zhanserik, and all other members of the team! You are the face, the strength, and the pride of our company.

Voices of the Team

The company website gathered the first reviews from the Tournament participants, who shared their raw, live emotions straight from the fields of athletic battles.

Madi Bektenov, Team Captain, Head of the Ecology and Environmental Protection Department:

"For our team, this Tournament, dedicated to the memory of Yerzhan Tatishev, was not just a competition, but a real test of character. We went with one goal – to fight for the overall victory. Unfortunately, not everything turned out exactly as we had planned. In some areas, our opponents were objectively stronger, in others we lacked a bit of luck, and in some moments we made avoidable mistakes. But that is what sports are all about – they teach you not only how to win beautifully but also how to accept defeat with dignity.

As the captain of the team, I saw how deeply every single employee cared about the common result. No one remained indifferent: everyone fought until the final whistle, supported each other in the stands, and gave their absolute all. It is this shared passion that makes us a real, cohesive team.

I sincerely thank everyone for their dedication, character, mutual support, and passion to win. Thank you for your hard work, the emotions, and the sweat you left at these games. It is a great honor for me to be the captain of such a team. Also, a special thanks to the organizers and the hosts for the excellent organization, warm welcome, and the atmosphere of fair play. We accept this result with dignity. It will not be a disappointment but a powerful motivation to become stronger. We will draw the right conclusions, keep working on ourselves, and we will definitely return even stronger. Because without defeats, there are no real, great victories. Onward, to new heights!"

Victor Kim - Head of the Capital Construction Department

“It was a truly grand sporting event, organized and executed at the highest level. There was an incredible atmosphere in the stadium that brought us all together and charged everyone with powerful energy. I was sincerely glad to be part of this great celebration of goodness, strength, and friendship!”

Asel Serikbay, GR&PR team:

"For me, traveling to Zhitikara for the Tournament in memory of Yerzhan Tatishev is becoming the best tradition of the season for the second year in a row.

These days are a real breath of fresh air. Here, you instantly switch off, leave your work routine behind, and dive headfirst into pure sporting excitement, combining it with heartwarming communication with colleagues. I am thrilled that I could defend the honor of KAZPETROL GROUP at the chessboard and bring gold to the team! Yes, we didn't squeeze into the top three overall this time, but our guys fought in every single game so hard that our opponents had a tough time.

But the most important thing for me was our amazing team spirit. When 'One for all, and all for one!' echoes across the field, you realize that with a team like this, we are bound to win – both on the stadium and in the office!"

Nurlan Nurmushev, Leading Engineer of the Logistics Department:

"I absolutely loved everything! It was a true, grand celebration of sports – sparkling passion, smooth teamwork, powerful support from colleagues, and a burning desire to win. Sometimes the intensity on the court was so high that it felt as if we weren't playing at a corporate tournament, but fighting in the World Cup final. A huge thank you to all the guys for these unforgettable emotions and great mood!"

Almas Kamalov, Procurement Manager at "Galaz and Company" LLP:

"Since this was my first time attending such an event, the Tournament gave me absolutely amazing emotions, introduced me to the true sporting spirit of Kusto Group, and offered a great opportunity to test my own strength. But what is especially valuable is that I got to know and chat in an informal setting with colleagues from other companies of our group, which strongly reinforces our internal corporate ties."

Forward, to New Heights!

The XXI Tournament in Zhitikara is officially over. It has left us with bright memories, well-deserved medals, invaluable experience, and, most importantly, a clear understanding of where and how we need to head next. We have proven once again that in both day-to-day business and on the sports field, Kusto Group is a single, indivisible, and powerful organism.