The Volleyball Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan was established in 1992 with the aim of developing Olympic sports in the country, including indoor volleyball and beach volleyball.
The first volleyball clubs in Kazakhstan appeared in 1928.
In 1969, the team “Burevestnik” became the Champion of the USSR;
in 1970, “Burevestnik” won the European Champions Cup;
in 1972, Nina Smoleeva became a two-time Olympic champion as a member of the USSR national team;
in 1975–1977, Igor Pilnikov became a two-time European champion with the USSR youth team;
in 1984, the women’s team “ADK” won the USSR Championship;
in 1985, “ADK” won the European Champions Cup;
in 1988, Elena Chebukina and Olga Krivosheeva became Olympic champions at the Seoul Olympic Games;
in 1988–1990, the men’s team “Dorozhnik” won the last USSR Cup;
in 1992, the teams “Azamat” and “Asia-ADK” became winners of the first Championship of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
in 1993, “Azamat” won the Asian Champions Cup;
in 1993 and 1997, the men’s and women’s national teams of Kazakhstan became two-time champions of the Central Asian Games;
in 1998, “Alma-Dynamo” won the silver medal at the Asian Championship;
in 2002, the men’s national team of Kazakhstan participated in the World Championship;
in 2004, the Almaty women’s club “Rakhat” won the Asian Cup;
in 2005, the Almaty men’s club “Rakhat-CSKA” won the Asian Cup.
In 2005, the Volleyball Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan was recognized as the best sports federation in Kazakhstan.
In 2006, Kazakhstan was represented by both men’s and women’s national teams at the World Championship.
In 2007–2008, the women’s national team participated in the FIVB World Grand Prix, among the top 12 national teams of the year.
In 2008, the women’s national team of Kazakhstan competed at the Beijing Olympic Games.
MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF KAZAKHSTAN
The men’s national volleyball team of Kazakhstan was formed in 1991, after Kazakhstan gained independence. Since then, the team has regularly participated in all official competitions organized by FIVB and AVC.
During the Soviet period, Kazakhstan repeatedly became a winner and medalist of the USSR Championships and Cups. Kazakh players represented the USSR national team and became Olympic and World Champions.
Kazakhstan’s participation in World Championships:
2002 (Argentina) — 19th place out of 24 teams
2006 (Japan) — 21st place
At the 15th Asian Championship, the national team of Kazakhstan finished 5th.
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF KAZAKHSTAN
After gaining independence, the women’s national team of Kazakhstan began representing the country in international competitions organized by FIVB and AVC.
In 2005, the team qualified for the final stage of the 2006 World Championship in Japan and won the silver medal at the 13th Asian Championship.
In 2007, the Kazakhstan women’s team participated in the World Grand Prix for the first time, finishing 10th.
In 2008, the team won two matches at the Olympic qualification tournament in Japan, earning the right to represent Kazakhstan at the Beijing Olympic Games.
In 2009, after successful qualification, the team earned the right to compete in the 2010 World Championship in Japan.
In 2011, the women’s national team participated in the FIVB World Grand Prix and the 16th Asian Championship.
LEGENDS OF KAZAKHSTAN VOLLEYBALL
OLEG ANTROPOV
(05.11.1947)
Olympic Champion (1968), USSR Champion (1969), winner of the European Champions Cup (1970). One of the most prominent figures in Kazakhstan volleyball; later worked as a coach and physician.
VALERY KRAVCHENKO
(1939–1996)
Olympic Champion (1968), World Cup winner (1965), two-time European Champion. Key player of the “Burevestnik” team.
OLGA KRIVOSHEEVA
Olympic Champion (1988), European Champion. One of the leading players of the ADK club (Almaty).
ELENA CHEBUKINA
Olympic Champion (1988), World Champion (1990), four-time European Champion. Legendary player of the ADK club.
NINA SMOLEEVA
Two-time Olympic Champion (1968, 1972), World Champion, one of the most iconic figures in Soviet and Kazakhstan volleyball history.
