Kazakh cyclist Rinata Sultanova placed eighth in the women's road race at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, finishing in 2 hours 52 minutes 41 seconds, 2 minutes 36 seconds behind the winner, infohub.kz reports.
Two other Kazakh riders finished outside the top ten. Yelizaveta Sklyarova took 15th in 2:55:52, 5 minutes 47 seconds off the lead, while Violetta Kazakova was 23rd in 2:58:00 (+7:55).
China's Li Guo won gold in 2:50:05. Fariba Hashimi of Afghanistan recorded the same time to take silver. Leung Wing Yee of Hong Kong claimed bronze in 2:50:46.
2026 Asian Games. September 22. Cycling. Women's road race. 1. Li Guo (China) — 2:50:05. 2. Fariba Hashimi (Afghanistan) — 2:50:05. 3. Leung Wing Yee (Hong Kong) — 2:50:46. 8. Rinata Sultanova (Kazakhstan) — 2:52:41. 15. Yelizaveta Sklyarova (Kazakhstan) — 2:55:52. 23. Violetta Kazakova (Kazakhstan) — 2:58:00.
For Sultanova, it was her second start at these Asian Games. On September 20, the Kazakh won the individual time trial, giving Kazakhstan its first gold of the Games.
The Games officially opened on September 19. The multi-sport event, featuring athletes from 45 countries, will award 460 medal sets: 217 in men's events, 204 in women's and 39 in mixed disciplines. Kazakhstan's team at the 2026 Asian Games comprises 558 athletes competing in 35 sports.
On the first day of the Games, Kazakh athletes won four gold medals. Cyclists Rinata Sultanova and Alexey Lutsenko, along with karateka Zholaman Bigabyl and Sofia Berultseva, became Asian Games champions. After the second day, Kazakhstan stood fourth in the unofficial team standings.