Aizhanat Okasheva from the Altai region of Russia competes in a game of toguz kumalak with Jansaya Toilybai. Okasheva began as a chess player, and started playing toguz kumalak just a few years ago while teaching German. Nearly as many women as men compete in toguz kumalak, an intellectual game rather than a physical sport, although the rules say men and women can’t compete with each other. This could be a result of its history of development in a Muslim region. (Photo by Eleanor Moseman/The Guardian)
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