DUSHANBE, November 12, 2012, Asia-Plus — Tajik athlete Mahmad Mirov has won gold medal in the World Belt Wrestling Cup, finishing first in the men’s ‘free style’ belt wrestling in the 100kg weight category, Chairman of Tajikistan’s Belt Wrestling Federation Anvar Qosimov told Asia-Plus in an interview.
The tournament was held in Ufa, Russia and in the final, Mahmad Mirov defeated Ukrainian athlete Maksim Chepuro, Qosimov said, adding that another Tajik athlete, Nekbakht Ziyoyev, won bronze medal.
In all, nine athletes represented Tajikistan in the World Belt Wrestling Cup in Ufa, which brought together 120 athletes from 22 countries of the world.
A month ago, Mahmad Mirov won bronze medal in the Asian Belt Wrestling Championships.
We will recall that last year, Mahmad Mirov won gold medal in the 9th World Belt Wrestling Championships that took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Belt Wrestling is one of the most ancient sports known to man. Every country has its own kind of struggle. Originally, wrestling was intended as a means of survival for ancient civilizations.
Belt wrestling has achieved a new dynamic and is undergoing a renaissance in the 21st century. The modern drive for its valorization comes from the Russian Federation where several indigenous variations are still practiced. To accommodate the many variations of belt wrestling throughout the world, the philosophy of the new International Belt Wrestling Association (IBWA) has been simple and logical; it has adopted two sets of standard rules and a standard costume. Their reasoning is that some styles do not permit trips and some do. However, according to the new association, to compete without trips is called ‘classical style’ and with trips is called ‘free style’.
In different corners of the planet like Europe, Asia, or the African Continent, the central component of wrestling is a simple device like a belt, ordinary towel, or girdle. For example, within Central Asia Kuresh wrestling is popular. It is distinguished by throwing one’s opponent by tearing him away from the floor or from the mat without using one’s legs. Such rules can be relevant only in that region. In England, sportsmen compete under different rules. In Spain, rules are of a third kind and in Niger a fourth.
Honorary President of the International Association of Traditional Types of Sports Reef Gainanov once stated, “This type of wrestling will always be interesting. Every nation has its own coloring. One nation should not impose its own rules upon other countries and should respect other cultures and their customs”.
Today wrestling as a national sport cannot be ascribed to any single country. It is unique, gathering more and more fans. The circle of contestants is widening considerably. This is a spectacular and democratic sport and one that does not require much financial expenditure.
IBWA is an organization that serves as an international platform for popularizing and developing traditional wrestling/belt wrestling throughout the world irrespective of race and political followings. Today IBWA governs different belt wrestling disciplines: free style, classical style, female belt wrestling, beach belt wrestling, snow belt wrestling in five age group: cadets, juniors, students, seniors and veterans in 12 weight categories (7 for men and 5 for women).
