In Houston, US Kazakh Communities Find Their Footing Through Sport
What began as a friendly volleyball game turns into a moment of cultural awakening for Kazakhs across the United States.
Last year’s Interstate Volleyball Tournament champions, Chicago Bars, battle it out against North Carolina Nomads at this year’s event in honor of Republic Day of Kazakhstan on October 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas. The one-day tournament, hosted by Texas Qazaq Foundation, brought 12 Kazakh teams from California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and Texas. Photo credit: Texas Qazaq Foundation
Houston’s Interstate Volleyball Tournament in honor of Republic Day Volleyball Tournament drew 12 teams across the United States, reflecting a new generation of Kazakh Americans organizing, competing and building community.
HOUSTON, Texas — What began as a Republic Day volleyball tournament grew into something larger—a sign that Kazakh communities across the United States are coming into their own.
On Sunday, October 12, 2025, twelve teams from across the country descended on Houston to participate in the second annual Interstate Volleyball Tournament, hosted by the Texas Qazaq Foundation, a nonprofit representing Kazakh communities throughout the state.
Held at the Texas Tornados Volleyball Club in north Houston, the event drew nearly 200 spectators who cheered on teams from California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Texas.
The tournament opened with the national anthem of Kazakhstan, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the former Soviet republic’s declaration of sovereignty on October 25, 1990.
The San Francisco Golden Gate team captured first place, and its captain, Olzhas Aitbekov, 29, a software engineer at Google, earned the Most Valuable Player award.
Photo credit: Texas Qazaq Foundation
“The victory means a lot to me, to our team, and to the Kazakh community,” Aitbekov said. “We don’t have a very large community in San Francisco, but now everyone is congratulating us. It’s brought more visibility to our Bay Area Kazakh community.”
Irvine Silkway, also from California and representing Orange County’s Silkway Cultural Center, finished second, while Houston’s Zadrz claimed third place.
Aibolat Zhanserik, CEO of ALA Telecom and owner of Nomad Auto Group in Chicago, served as team captain of Chicago Bars, last year’s champions. Zhanserik echoed Aitbekov’s reflections on the tournament’s growing significance beyond the court.
“Moments like this remind me how strong our Kazakh community is here in America,” he said.
The tournament was sponsored by Zadrz, Happy Cake, StarWell Capital, BI Group USA, Lifetime Homes, Bright Alim Corporation, Lumotree, The DPMN, M-Level, and Steambox Sauna.
More than a sporting event, the Interstate Volleyball Tournament signals a pivotal moment for Kazakh Americans—one in which small, scattered groups are emerging into confident, connected communities across the US.