A Memorandum to launch the SHE.TRI initiative was signed at the Kazakhstan Press Club on March 20, marking the start of a project aimed at expanding women's involvement in mass sports across Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The platform connects Tashkent, Samarkand, Almaty, and Bishkek, with the primary goal of reducing barriers that prevent women from taking the first step toward regular physical activity, particularly in triathlon events.
The project was founded by five female leaders: Elena Kun, Secretary General of the Uzbekistan Triathlon Federation and founder of Women Tri Club; Saltanat Kazybayeva, co-founder of the Trigada community; Ayana Amanbayeva, co-founder of Trigada and PR Director of The Sport; Aigerim Raimkulova, co-founder of Trigada and sports psychologist; and Elena Lyzhina-Polchenkova, Secretary General of the Kyrgyzstan Triathlon Federation and member of the Asia Triathlon Executive Council. Elena Kun noted that over the past 25 years, the sports industry has grown significantly, with an increase in events, but women's participation has not kept pace. On average in the Asian region, mass event participation is 70% men and only 30% women, highlighting the need for new formats and solutions to engage women and lower initial barriers.
Key barriers include fear of the first step, lack of sports communities, social expectations and roles, and time deficits due to family responsibilities. Saltanat Kazybayeva emphasized that SHE.TRI is not just a series of women's races but a platform that helps women take the first step toward physical activity, feel support, and gain confidence. In Kazakhstan, the situation is gradually changing, but the gap remains pronounced in triathlon: at Ironman Kazakhstan 2023, about 80% of participants were men and only 20% women.
Ayana Amanbayeva pointed out that often only stories of already successful female athletes are visible, which can create a perception that sport is difficult and not for everyone. Therefore, SHE.TRI centers on a supportive environment and accessible format, not built around the idea of dividing sport into "male" and "female," but focused on helping women enter sport without pressure, exaggerated expectations, or the feeling that one needs to be a prepared athlete to start. Aigerim Raimkulova added that the main barrier is often not physical fitness but internal doubts and fear of starting, and involving women in sport changes family behavior models and impacts national health.
The SHE.TRI series has already begun: the first stage took place on March 8 in Bishkek in an indoor format, where participants completed 300 meters of swimming, 10 kilometers on stationary bikes, and 2 kilometers of running. This format confirmed the demand for short, understandable, and safe distances. Upcoming stages are planned in Tashkent on June 6–7 and in Almaty on July 12. SHE.TRI views sport not only as physical activity but also as an important social tool for strengthening health, building confidence, and creating new role models in society.
Source: podrobno.uz