In the capital of Azerbaijan, the European Championship for adult Kazakh wrestling is currently underway, featuring athletes from approximately 15 countries across the old continent.
According to information from the Kazakh Wrestling Federation, both men and women will be competing in the championship, organized within the framework of the “United Wrestling World” (UWW), with the aim of determining the strongest in each of the 16 weight classes.
Rodika Maria Yakshi, a member of the UWW Congress Bureau and president of the traditional wrestling committee, opened the competition with an introduction, highlighting the European Championship’s role in the development of Kazakh wrestling. She also extended best wishes for success to all participants.
During the ceremony, Damir Bekbosynov, CEO of the Qazaq Kuresi Association, stressed the significance of the championship, emphasizing that Kazakh wrestling is a result of the synthesis of various traditional wrestling styles on the Eurasian continent. He noted that Kazakh wrestling has been part of national competitions since 1938 and achieved UNESCO recognition as intangible cultural heritage in 2016. Bekbosynov expressed gratitude to the leadership and staff of the local Kazakh wrestling federation for their high-level involvement in organizing the championship.
Damir Bekbosynov then presented special souvenirs from Kazakhstan to representatives of UWW and the leadership of the local federation. Additionally, he conveyed a letter of thanks from Yerbol Myrzabosynov, the president of Qazaq Kuresi Association and chairman of the Sports and Physical Education Committee of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to Kazym Kurbanov, the president of the National Sports Association of Azerbaijan.
The European Championship is sponsored by the Sport Qory sports support fund. It’s worth noting that the previous European Championship in Kazakh wrestling took place in Zrenjanin, Serbia.
