History of Handball in Kazakhstan
Establishment of the Federation and International Recognition
After the collapse of the USSR, handball in Kazakhstan began to develop as an independent sport. In 1992, the Handball Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan was founded, and in the same year, Kazakhstan became a member of the International Handball Federation (IHF), which opened up new opportunities to participate in international tournaments.
First Steps onto the International Stage
The official debut of Kazakhstan’s national team in international competitions took place in 1993 at the Asian Women’s Championship in China. This tournament became a significant milestone in the history of Kazakh handball, laying the foundation for its further development.
The Role of the Federation’s First Leaders
The first leaders of the Federation played a key role in the formation and development of handball in sovereign Kazakhstan:
Amirzhanov E.A. (President from 1992–1995) — the Federation’s first president, who laid the foundations for managing and developing the sport.
Saparbayev B.M. (President from 1996–1998) — continued efforts to strengthen the national teams and promote handball throughout the country.
Kashutsky Yu.P. (Acting President from 1998–2000) — served as the Federation’s Secretary General.
Popularization and International Achievements
A special role in the development of handball in Kazakhstan was played by Turlikhanov D.B., Honorary President of the Handball Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. His support contributed to increased public interest in the sport and growth in the number of athletes.
Current Stage of Development
For the past 25 years, the Handball Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been led by Turlikhanova G.I., whose efforts focus on strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in global handball, developing youth and professional teams, and expanding the sport’s infrastructure