Toguz Korgool: from AUCA classrooms to the World Nomad Games
September 25, 2026
Thomas Peterson, a college freshman from Wisconsin, USA, studied at AUCA last year through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, a US State Department program that teaches foreign languages to American high school students through study abroad. While at AUCA, Thomas discovered a passion for Toguz Korgool, the Kyrgyz national board game 鈥� a passion that recently took him all the way to the 6th World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, where he represented his country. In his own words, Thomas shares his experience:
" My name is Thomas Peterson, and I am a college freshman from Wisconsin, USA,
studying at the University of Oxford in the UK. Last year, I studied at AUCA in the program
National Security Language Initiative - Youth, which is a US State Department program
designed to teach foreign languages to American high school students through study abroad.
I mainly studied Russian at AUCA, but I also took a semester of the Kyrgyz national
board game Toguz Korgool. I participated in a college tournament representing AUCA in March
of this year, and I continued to practice with the guidance of my professor, Murataly
Duishonakunov, even after my program ended in May.
I was recently given the opportunity to represent my country playing Toguz Korgool at
the 6th World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan this summer. I played from the 1st of September to
the 6th for a total of 8 games. Our competition was held in Cholpon-Ata, and I competed in a
pool of 72 athletes from 46 different countries.
Competing with me in Toguz Korgool for Team USA was my childhood friend and our
mothers, who formed both a men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 team. We are very proud to report that in
total, Team USA won a majority of its games! I finished having won 5 out of 8 of my games,
putting me at 10th place individually out of 72 players.
Competing in the World Nomad Games wasn鈥檛 just an exciting opportunity to play the
game I love, but it was a valuable opportunity to build bridges between nations through sport. I
owe it to the time I spent studying Toguz Korgool at AUCA and the help I received from my
professor Mr Duishonakunov for the chance to participate in such a spectacular event.
Most importantly, the World Nomad Games have further motivated me to practice harder
and play more. I look forward to future opportunities to compete, and I am excited to share this
wonderful piece of Kyrgyz cultural heritage with others in the next chapter of my life. Thank you
AUCA for the introduction into the world of Toguz Korgool! "听
听
Photo credit: Alexander Thompson
