Historic Records: Chery and Astana Motors Support Kazakhstan’s Para Athletes in Japan

Kazakhstan delivered a historic performance at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, held from October 18 to 24, winning a total of 50 medals: 12 gold, 16 silver, and 22 bronze. The result marks the national team’s best-ever performance in the history of its participation in the Games, setting new records for both gold medals and the overall medal tally.

Chery Kazakhstan, part of Astana Motors, is a key partner of the National Paralympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Since 2025, the company has committed KZT 147 million annually to supporting Paralympic sports through charitable initiatives. Over two years, its total contribution, including prize money awarded to athletes, will reach KZT 386.5 million.

“For us, this is more than sponsorship. It is an investment in the development of Paralympic sports and in supporting athletes whose achievements inspire thousands of people across Kazakhstan. We are particularly proud that our partnership with the National Paralympic Committee has expanded internationally. Kazakhstan’s experience attracted the attention of Chery’s global headquarters, which supported the Asian Paralympic Committee General Assembly in Astana and subsequently became the Exclusive Mobility Partner of the Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai. This demonstrates how a local initiative can become part of a brand’s global commitment to social responsibility,” said Nurlan Smagulov, Founder of Astana Motors.

Following the fifth Asian Para Games in Japan, Kazakhstan’s para athletes shared their experiences and reflected on their performances.

One of the most remarkable stories of the Games was that of Aisulu Suleimenova, who represented Kazakhstan in para athletics. Competing in the T62 classification for athletes with bilateral lower-limb impairments who use running prostheses, Suleimenova faced an unusual challenge. With no other competitors in her classification, she raced against athletes in the T64 category. Despite the tougher competition, she finished fifth in the combined race and set a new Asian record in the T62 classification.

“To be honest, I couldn’t believe it at first. I kept looking at the scoreboard, waiting for the result to be officially confirmed. Then people started congratulating me, but even then, it was hard to take it all in. I was overwhelmed with emotion and could barely hold back my tears,” Aisulu Suleimenova recalled.

For Dastan Mukashbekov, a bronze medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and a world champion in para athletics, competing in Japan marked another important milestone in his sporting career. He was also entrusted with the honour of carrying Kazakhstan’s national flag at the Games.

“I am happy and proud to have represented my country at the Asian Para Games. It means a great deal to me to live up to the trust and expectations of the people of Kazakhstan and to give my very best. I want to thank everyone who cheered for me and supported me. There is still a lot of hard work and training ahead. I want to keep getting stronger, improve my results, and continue making my country proud through my performances,” said Dastan Mukashbekov.

Having returned home, the athletes are now taking time to rest and recover before resuming training and preparing for upcoming competitions.

Beyond its support for elite para sport, Chery Kazakhstan is actively involved in community and social initiatives. With the company’s support, a special meeting was organised in Almaty between Kazakhstani Paralympians and students of Special Boarding School No. 2. During the event, the athletes shared their personal journeys, spoke about the challenges they had overcome, and told the children about their paths to success in elite sport.

Meanwhile, the Chery International User Summit 2026 was held in Wuhu, China, from October 18 to 24, coinciding with the Asian Para Games in Japan.