Kazakhstan's Kristina Shumekova reached the podium at a senior World Cup for the first time in her career, winning silver in the 1000 meters in the top division at the season-opening 2026/27 stage in Beijing, the website infohub.kz reports.
The 20-year-old clocked 1 minute 15.64 seconds. Angel Daleman of the Netherlands took victory in 1:14.07, while Poland's Wiktoria Dabrowska claimed bronze in 1:15.85. Fellow Kazakhstani Kristina Silaeva finished 20th in 1:20.44.
The medal is the first for Kazakhstan's speed skating team at the World Cup this season. The Beijing competition marks Shumekova's debut at the senior World Cup level. Last season she won five gold medals at the World Junior Championships.
Other Kazakhstani skaters competed in Division B, the second tier, on Friday. Shumekova placed sixth in the 3000 meters, while Maria Degen set a personal best to finish 14th.
In the 1000 meters, Inessa Shumekova finished 16th and Darya Vazhenina 21st. In the men's 1000 meters, Artur Galiyev placed 17th. In the Division B 5000 meters, Vadim Yakubovsky also finished 17th.