The first day of the Gushtingiri World Championship competitions, which started on August 30 in Dushanbe, brought the Tajik national team 5 medals: 4 gold and one silver.
In the weight categories up to 65, 71 and +95 kg among men, the first places were taken by Tajik wrestlers Mullorajab Khalifayev, Masudi Akhmadzod and Shakarmamad Mirmamadov.
Gulnoza Matniezova won gold in the women's 70 kg weight category, and Shokhida Kalandarova won the silver medal.
The awards to the participants of the first Gushtingiri World Cup were personally presented by the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the Chairman of the city of Dushanbe Rustam Emomali. The award ceremony was also attended by the bronze medalist of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Temur Rakhimov.
Before the opening of the championship, Emomali Rahmon addressed the participants and guests of the competition. He noted that gushtingiri is a traditional sport of the Tajik people and has a long history dating back more than 5,000 years.
“We will take responsibility for holding official international Gushtingiri events at a high level. We will continue to keep the bar high in organizing the Asian Championship, the Asian Cup, the World Championship and the World Cup, as well as other national and international high-level gushtingiri competitions,” – the president said, whose speech was published by the press service of the head of state.
The press service noted that on the eve of the championship, on August 29, Emomali Rahmon was elected honorary president of the International Gushtingiri Federation.
Athletes from 63 countries take part in the first Gushtingiri World Cup, which takes place in the capital's Palace of Tennis and Water Sports. The competition involves men in the weight category from 65 to 95 kg and women in the weight category from 52 to 70 kg.
The total prize fund of the championship is $400 thousand. The winners of the first place are awarded $ 20 thousand, the holders of the silver medal – $ 10 thousand and the bronze medal – $ 5 thousand.
In 2022, Tajik national wrestling (gushtingiri) received international status. The International Gushtingiri Federation was established and registered in Zurich, Switzerland.
