Over the weekend, the Kazakh sports scene experienced a mix of successes and setbacks. While the rhythmic gymnastics and table tennis teams delivered strong performances, the Miami Open finals concluded with Elena Rybakina’s defeat to Danielle Collins. Their second encounter this season favored the American player, with Rybakina falling short of claiming her third title this season.
Here's a rundown of the notable weekend achievements, compiled by QazMonitor.
Rhythmic gymnastics
Yertaykyzy carries Kazakhstan at Grand Prix Thiais 2024
Rhythmic gymnast Aibota Yertaykyzy clinched two silver and one bronze medals at the Grand Prix Thiais 2024 in France.
What happened: On March 30-31, the French city of Thiais hosted the third stage of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix circuit. Yertaykyzy’s performances with ribbon and hoop routines earned her a silver medal each, and a bronze for the ball routine.
Background: Yertaykyzy, together with her peer, Elzhana Taniyeva, earned six medals overall for national rhythmic gymnastics at this year’s circuit — five for Yertaykyzy (three silver and two bronze) and one for Taniyeva (gold).
Tennis
Rybakina fell short of the Miami Open title
Elena Rybakina lost to Danielle Collins in two straight sets, 5:7, 3:6, falling short of claiming her third calendar title at the Miami Open in the US.
What Happened: On March 31, the Kazakh tennis player faced Collins in the final of the Miami Open, a WTA 1000 hardcourt tennis tournament
During the match, Rybakina served five aces to her opponent’s four and did not commit any double faults to her opponent’s three
This was their second encounter this season. The two had met in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Open, where Elena Rybakina powered through her opponent in three sets, 4:6, 6:3, 6:3
The Kazakh tennis player will earn $585,000 for becoming the finalist of the tournament
Table tennis
The Kazakh team clutched six medals at WTT Youth Contender Beirut 2024
On the final day of the WTT Youth Contender in Beirut, Alan Kurmangaliyev and Zhanerke Koshkumbayeva earned gold and bronze in the U19 Boys Singles and U19 Girls Singles, respectively.
What happened: On March 26-29, the capital of Lebanon, Beirut, hosted a tournament in the WTT Youth Contender series with a $1,000 prize pool. Overall, the national table tennis team bagged six medals in Beirut.
Alan Kurmangaliyev won gold in the U19 Boys Singles and U17 Boys Singles
Nurislam Kassym won silver in the U17 Boys Singles
Zhanerke Koshkumbayeva and Arnur Oralkhanov won silver in the U19 Mixed Doubles
Zhanerke Koshkumbayeva won bronze in the U19 Girls Singles
Nurdaulet Azamatuly won bronze in the U13 Boys Singles