Gateball was promoted in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the capital city of Sakhalin, Russia for two days from July 20 (Fri) to 21 (Sat) in 2018 by four Japanese Gateball players and two staff members of the Japan Gateball Union.

Gateball was first introduced into the city mainly among the students of the local sports  school in  16 years ago.  Following the vist of the Japanese Gateball players in the summer of 2014, the Sakhalin team participated in the 11^thWorld Gateball Championship and won two games.

Gateball was played in the indoor facility with local players including Ms. Bykova Tatiana, president of Sakhalin Federation Gateball and the vice-principal of the school, twenty students of the school and five players in their thirties (graduates of the school) who went to Niigata for the 11^thWorld Gateball Championship.

Players were divided into two groups, beginners and the advanced.  In the beginners’ court, two student teams played Gateball games while receiving guidance on how to make good games.  In the advanced court, the Russian team of those who participated in the World Gateball Championship played against the Japanese team.  Both teams discussed on the strategies later on.

Currently, Gateball in Russia is played only by the students of the school and its graduates.  But many graduates are to move to the mainland Russia.  Thus we expect more people in Russia will get to know and play Gateball in the future.