Nazarbayev gave state awards to Kazakhstan's Olympic medal winners

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has presented state awards to Kazakhstan's Olympic champions, Tengrinews.kz reports. Kazakhstan’s superior award, Otan decoration, was given to two-time Olympic weightlifting champion Ilya Ilyin, boxer Serik Sapiyev and cyclist Aleksandre Vinokourov. Weightlifters Svetlana Podobedova, Zulfiya Chinshanlo, Maiya Maneza, athlete Olga Rypakova and boxer Maria Volnova received Barys decorations. President also gave Parasat decoration to chairman of Kazkahstan Agency of Sport and Physical Culture Talgat Yermegiyayev. Wrestler Daniyal Gadzhiyev and boxer Adilbek Niyazimbetov were awarded with Kurmet decoration. Ivan Dychko, Gyuzel Manyurova and Akzhurek Tanatarov received awards as well. Cyclist Vinokourov noted that he was a veteran of Kazakhstan sport and the last Games were the fourth in his career. “I came back from Europe yesterday. Everyone is shocked there that Kazakhstan got head of such countries as, say, Switzerland.” Ilya Ilyin promised to win gold at the next Olympics in Rio. “We have set very high standards for ourselves. We will try hard in Rio and we’ll win. I am 99.9 percent sure I will win the third gold medal. In a year I will say 100 percent, meanwhile it is 99.9 percent.” The sportsmen thanked the President. By Dmitriy Khegai