Winners of international Tatar language and literature competition awarded in Kazan

The winners of an international Tatar language and literature competition that Kazan hosted for the first time were awarded on Sunday.
For four days, about 100 school students who came to Kazan from 9 countries and 13 Russia regions vied to be called Tatar language and literature experts.
Over 1,500 school students from Russia, Finland, Turkey, China, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other states took part in the competition’s first, in absentia, stage on 26-29 September. One hundred were selected by the jury for the second round.
The in presentia stage included several tasks within spoken and written language competitions. The jury included faculty members at the Kazan University’s department of philology, renowned Tatar writers and poets, as well as journalists.
Welcoming the contenders, Tatarstan State Council deputy chairman Rimma Ratnikova noted that Tatars residing in the US had first come to Tatarstan in late 80es, surprising the receiving party with their good command of Tatar and observance of the ethnic traditions.
“After that, we began to think that we needed to promote the language, culture and customs. Since that time, various plans have been adopted in the republic. Today we have grown up enough to host an international tatar language competition,” she enhanced. Following her speech, she presented certificates and IPads to winners: Fatikhe Zhemouzia of China, Rinat Abdulkayumov of Kazakhstan, Leisan Gabdulmanova and Aidar Shaikhin of Tatarstan, and others.
The competition was sponsored by the Tatarstan Education and Science Ministry with the support of the government, aiming to provide better conditions for conserving and promoting the Tatar language, literature, culture and traditions.