Wrestling Palace in Ufa hosted international tournament

The Ufa Wrestling Palace has hosted an international belt wrestling tournament in memory of Rif Gainanov, the first president of the International Belt Wrestling Federation. The government press service reported that this is the first international competition hosted by the new sports facility.

228 athletes from 14 countries attend the competition: the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkey, Georgia, and Abkhazia. 30 wrestlers from the Republic of Bashkortostan are participating in the tournament. The competition is held among freestyle athletes in the following weight categories: men (57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 75 kg, 82 kg, 90 kg, 100 kg, 100+ kg; women (52 kg, 58 kg, 66 kg, 76 kg, 76+ kg).

"Belt wrestling is an international phenomenon, a tradition that goes back thousands of years. It lives, develops dynamically, and attracts young athletes on all continents. Bashkortostan has long become a real center of belt wrestling - its traditions are carefully preserved in our republic and passed down from generation to generation. It is very symbolic that today's competitions are named after an outstanding athlete and coach, the founder of the World and All-Russian Belt Wrestling Federation, our fellow countryman - Rif Gainanov," - greeted the participants and guests of the competition, the Minister of Sports of the Republic of Bashkortostan Ruslan Khabibov.

Rif Gainanov was born in Oktyabrsky. He founded the World and All-Russian Belt Wrestling Federation, the USSR Master of Sports in Greco-Roman Wrestling, and the Honored Coach of Russia in Greco-Roman Wrestling. In 2006, he participated directly in the World Belt Wrestling Championship, held in Ufa and visited by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Today, in the Republic of Bashkortostan, for the period 2016-2024, 335 candidates for Master of Sports of Russia, 50 Masters of Sports of Russia, 8 Masters of Sports of International Class, and 4 Honored Masters of Sports of Russia have been trained in belt wrestling:

At the first "BRICS International Games," athletes from Bashkortostan won 6 medals in belt wrestling: 3 gold and 3 silver awards.

Author: Leila Aralbaeva