The top score did not lead to the final. Kazakh archer Abdulla Duysen posted the best result in the qualifying round at the Great Kurultaj in Hungary but was unable to continue in the competition because he was participating out of competition, DKNews.kz reports.
The episode took place during the 9th Great Hun-Turkic Kurultaj, held on August 14–16, 2026, in the Bugac steppe in Hungary. According to TURKSOY, the gathering brought together representatives of 27 Turkic-speaking states and peoples. Kazakhstan also took part in the event, as reported by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Hungary.
One of the most spectacular parts of the program was the “Rain of Arrows,” a synchronized mass volley involving hundreds of archers. Kazakhstanis were among the participants.
Best qualifying score was not enough to advance
Abdulla Duysen took part in the national championship out of competition. According to Murat Gabdussalimov, a craftsman who makes bows, arrows and shields, the Kazakh athlete recorded the highest score in the qualifying stage.
However, that result did not change his status. Because Duysen had entered the event out of competition, he was not allowed to advance to the next stage.
“Abdulla scored more than anyone else in qualifying. He had the top result. But because he was competing out of competition, they simply did not let him go any further. He was shooting with my bows, and it was flawless!” Murat Gabdussalimov said.
The case was therefore not about a disputed refereeing decision or disqualification. His inability to continue was linked specifically to his out-of-competition status.
The source material also identifies Duysen as the overall champion of the Kazakhstan Cup held in Karaganda in August 2026.
More than 300 archers released arrows at once
The competition itself was only one part of the larger program. One of the central spectacles was Kurultáj Nyílzápor, or the “Rain of Arrows.”
The official program of the Hungarian Archery Federation listed the mass volley for August 15 at 2:00 p.m. Registration allowed for up to 450 participants, with traditional steppe bows and wooden arrows permitted. Whistling arrows were also allowed.
According to the provided material, more than 300 archers ultimately took part in the “Rain of Arrows.”
Participants lined up in rows of five. The first shot was fired by renowned Hungarian archer József Mónus, known for long-distance archery and multiple world records.
Under the event rules, the front rows knelt down, and after the signal the archers raised and drew their bows. They then released three synchronized volleys toward a target zone roughly 180–190 metres away.
“You feel as if you are on a battlefield”
For Atyrau native Murat Gabdussalimov, the episode became one of the most memorable moments of his years attending the Great Kurultaj. He has regularly taken part in the gathering since 2014.
“The first two rows knelt down on command, then we raised our bows, drew the arrows and released them. We made three shots in total. I don’t know exactly how to describe the feeling — it is as if you suddenly find yourself on a battlefield. There is a special sense of unity when several hundred people perform the same action at the same time. It also looked very impressive from the outside,” Murat Gabdussalimov said.
The 2026 mass volley was part of the official Kurultaj program. The “Rain of Arrows” was organized as a joint performance by mounted and foot archers, with József Mónus also taking part.
The Kurultaj has become part of one Kazakh family’s story
For the Gabdussalimov family, trips to Hungary have long gone beyond a single tournament.
Murat Gabdussalimov himself finished second in the Kurultaj competition in 2022. Two years later, in 2024, his daughter Gainiya Asuat placed third among women.
In 2026, Gainiya’s husband, Abdulla Duysen, became part of the family’s Kurultaj story. Although he competed out of competition and could not advance after qualifying, Gabdussalimov singled out his result.
For the craftsman, travelling to Bugac is about more than sporting results.
“Even if I were not invited as part of a delegation, I would probably still try to come on my own. First and foremost, it is a chance to meet friends and get to know new people. You meet someone at one Kurultaj, continue communicating online, and then several years later you meet again here,” Murat Gabdussalimov said.
Kazakhstan was represented by more than archers
Kazakhstan’s presence in Bugac was not limited to archery.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Kazakh groups Arkayim and Sherter performed at the Kurultaj, while works by Kazakh artisans were presented at the Eastern Bazaar.
TURKSOY describes the 9th Great Hun-Turkic Kurultaj as a three-day cultural and historical event. Its program included traditional sports, historical reenactments, musical performances and academic events.
Bugac hosts such gatherings every two years. In 2026, the Hungarian steppe once again filled for several days with yurts, archers, horsemen, artisans and representatives of traditional cultures.
For the Gabdussalimov family, the end of the Kurultaj is associated less with tournament standings than with friendships renewed over the years.
“It is always a farewell to friends and a hope that we will meet again,” Murat Gabdussalimov said.
A few days ago, we reported on how Hungary brought together representatives of the Turkic world at the Great Kurultaj and how Kazakhstan was represented there. While that story focused on culture, diplomacy and craftsmanship, the experience of the Kazakh archers reveals the sporting side of the gathering in Bugac.
