Published
07/26/2025, 18:52Today, 26 July, the Central Hippodrome in Issyk-Kul is hosting the national horse racing tournament "Muras" — the first event of this scale since 1992. Minister of Agriculture Bakyt Torobaev spoke at the event.
In his speech, he noted that Kyrgyzstan intends to take a leading position in equestrian sports in Central Asia. According to him, this is facilitated by systematic support from the state and the personal initiative of President Sadyr Zhaparov.
"There is growing interest in Kyrgyz horses in Europe, Asia, Mongolia, Japan and Arab countries. This year alone, more than 200 Kyrgyz horses were exported. We consider this a great achievement and a source of pride for the industry. Thanks to a comprehensive approach, we will become leaders in equestrian sports in Central Asia," Bakyt Torobaev emphasised.
The minister also said that to develop horse breeding, the ministry took state stud farm No. 54 under its wing. Now they're actively breeding Kyrgyz riding horses, Orlov trotters, as well as Kyrgyz and New Kyrgyz horse breeds there.
The Muras tournament has become not only a sporting event but also a cultural symbol. It reflects the spirit of the Manas epic, the images of the legendary horses Ak-Kula and Taitoru, and the historical memory and strength of the Kyrgyz people.
The competition attracted hundreds of guests from Kyrgyzstan and neighbouring countries, giving new impetus to the development of tourist infrastructure on the shores of Issyk-Kul.
According to the National Council for Tourism Development, in the first half of 2025, the country was visited by more than 2.8 million foreign citizens, of whom almost 88.5% were tourists from Central Asian countries. Tourism revenues amounted to 160.6 million soms, confirming the dynamic growth of the industry.
Against this backdrop, the Muras tournament has become an important platform for showcasing Kyrgyzstan's cultural heritage, strengthening the country's image and attracting investment in tourism and sport.
