Jelena Rybakina receives Order of Barys from Kazakhstan President

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has awarded tennis player Jelena Rybakina the Order of Barys, Class III. The honor recognizes her significant sporting achievements and her role in popularizing tennis within Kazakhstan.

Following a career-best season, the 27-year-old reached the world number one position in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. Her recent successes include winning Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and the US Open, as well as a victory at the WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart.

Originally born in Moscow, Rybakina began her career representing Russia before switching her international representation to Kazakhstan in June 2018. President Tokayev noted that her success has inspired many children across the country to enroll in tennis classes.