Kazakhstan School of kickboxing is certainly one of the leaders in not only Central Asia but the whole continent. In the early 90s of XX- century Kazakhstan kickboxing created by a patron, fan of kickboxing Sabyrzhan Makhmetov, and in the future promoted has become one of our spectator sports in international competitions.

Our "fighters" in the nearly 25 years, forced to reckon with them in all 5 continents of the world with their victorious performances. Names of such Kazakhstan kickboxers as Askar Kokhanov, Askar Mozhanov, Yerzhan Shegenov, Asylkhan Busurmanov, Elmurat Kaiypzhanov, Maksut Ibrayev and others are known throughout the world community of kickboxing.

Currently worldwide kickboxing unites national federation of more than 100 countries worldwide. And this number is growing from year to year. Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) already views this sport as an obvious candidate for inclusion in the program of the following Summer Asian Games. In 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 competition in kickboxing were conducted in the "small Asian Games" - the Asian Indoor Games and the World Games in the martial arts. And I think that day is not far when we will see the discipline, such as kickboxing at the Summer Olympics.

National Kickboxing Federation of Kazakhstan has made every effort to promote this spectacular sport among children and adolescents. Mass number of people engaged in amateur and professional kickboxing increased. And as a result of mass the skill manifests itself. National team of Kazakhstan in various age and weight categories successfully participate in numerous international competitions praising thus their homeland and forcing play their national anthem on the podium!

In order to view the candidates for the national team and capability of the teams of Kazakhstan the Agency of Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Akimat of Astana, Kazakhstan Kickboxing Federation, coaching council of the national team of Kazakhstan with the support of a national company EXPO-2017 organized match between the national teams of kickboxers from Kazakhstan and China.

Sparring partner for our fighters in the face of the Chinese team was not selected by chance. Athletes and coaches from China are developing by leaps and bounds kickboxing in their homeland. It is not worth speaking on the number of people engaged - all in China is measured in tens or even hundreds of thousands. Our eastern neighbors are at the proper height in sport now, in particular, kickboxing. It should be noted that in addition to China, the development of the Asian kickboxing seriously involved such countries as Vietnam, Iran, Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Kyrgyzstan ... So, the competition in the upcoming Asian Games (hopefully the Great Asian Games) will be very high.

For the record though friendly match, the head coach of Kazakhstan team Kairat Smagulov selected seven fighters, whom he wanted to check in the play.

So, Astana, July 26, 2014, the sports complex Daulet. Spectators in the stands are enough - more than a thousand fans and lovers of kickboxing. So many people in this sports complex do not go sometimes to the Olympic sports, such as: tennis, wrestling and boxing.

After the opening ceremony the first who went into the battle the representatives of featherweight - weight category up to 60 kg. Shyngyzhan Tlemisov came to the ring to defend the honour of Kazakhstan. His Chinese opponent - Wang Wenfeng. During all 3 rounds the advantage and playing superiority was on the side of Kazakhstani fighter. And the result - all three referees give unconditional victory to our compatriot (3: 0). {0In the following weight (65 kg.) minimal victory was awarded by a controversial decision (2: 1) to the guests, in particular, Shi Shuangu, who beat our Kanagat Nurgaliyev.Score of the meeting after two fights became equal - 1: 1.

In the "gold", our Kazakh weight - up to 67 kg Ersain Kasambayev with a minimal advantage (2: 1) forced to surrender his opponent on the ring Wei Rui. In the weight category up to 70 kg Pavlodar fighter, participant and winner of the Asian Indoor Games 2013 in Incheon (South Korea) Arthur Saurbayev after unanimous decision of the judges (3: 0) defeated visually more massive-looking champion of China Zhang Dezheng.

In the next middleweight (up to 75 kg), Mergen Bilyalov having showed Kazakh hospitality gave way (1: 2) to its counterpart from China Soong Veychao. The score in the series after this fight was 3: 2 in favor of our team.

In the weight category up to 80 kg our team was represented by eminent and almost a veteran of the team Babur Artykbayev from Shymkent. Usually Babur stands at a weight of 75 kg, but the coaching staff has entrusted him to try a heavier weight class. Artykbayev honorably fighted at this time. His opponent was Liu Dashyna. Babur, increasing the tempo from round to round brought his fight to the bitter end - 3: 0.

The audience did not see the last fight of the evening at a weight of up to 90 kg, expected to be entertaining. Doctors from the competition have removed Chinese athlete Tang Ishan because of an injury in training. Technical victory was given to our

kickboxer Askhat Zhantursynov.

The friendly match ended with a score 5: 2 in favor of the national team of Kazakhstan.

Minutes of the match

Ardak Togumov, spokesperson of the Direction of Full-time National Teams and Sport Reserve