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The Open Republican Tournament of the Crimean Tatar National Wrestling Kuresh for the “Alraid” Cup was held in Simferopol, on August 21, on the third day of the Muslim fast breaking festival Uraza- Bayram (Id Al-Fitr). The idea to include the tournament in the festival program was articulated last year, gained popularity and laid the beginning of a good tradition. The atmosphere in this sport event was in full keeping with this joyful day for Muslims.

 

Tournament organizers were the Crimean Ministry for Science and Education, Youth and Sports, The Crimean Federation of the National Wrestling Kuresh, and “Alraid” that took on the event sponsorship. Honored guests were Mr. Rustem Kazakov, a well known sportsman and Olympic champion, Mr.Refat Chubarov, a deputy of the Crimean Parliament, Mr.Ali Hamzin, a member of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and others.

  

They congratulated the wrestling participants and the Muslim audience with the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the coming of the great festival of Uraza-Bayram (Id Al-Fitr). The Prophet Muhammad (may be peace and blessings on him) encouraged the engagement in sports for keeping good physical condition. So, the speakers emphasized the importance of popularizing sports among the youth for physical development of young men and preservation of cultural identity of Crimean Tatars, and wished them success in sport wrestling.

More than eighty sportsmen from various Crimean localities came to the contest in this year. They performed in the two age categories and several weight categories. Winners among the young men were Mustafa Ibrahimov (44 kg); Rustem Miroshnikov (50 kg); Ernest Chakir (57 kg); Memet Asanov (65 kg); Izet Kadyrov (72 kg)4 Sabri Tohtarov (80 kg). Priority in the adult category was taken by Edem Shahmatov (60 kg); Umer Belyalov (70 kg); Asan Asanov (80 kg); Alexey Avdeyev (90 kg) and Asan Settar (100 kg). The winner in the most interesting weight category, the so called “absolute”, was Ilimdar Saidov, a sportsman from Simferopol. It was he who carried on his shoulders the main prize, a living ram. While the sportsmen winning prize places in the rest of categories received medals and deeds, the winners’ awards were supplemented by money prizes. Once the tournament ended, participants and spectators were invited to ceremonial dinner.

 

As noted by Mr.Seydamet Yagyyayev, the senior referee of the contest, kuresh is a part of the national culture of Crimean Tatars. Before II World War, contests in this kind of national wrestling used to be an integral component of the two main Muslim festivals, Uraza-Bayram and Kurban-Bayram. According to Seydamet-bey, revival of this sport and arrangement of contests like this has great significance for reviving self-identity of Crimean Tatars as a Muslim nation.

Mr. Jafer Bekirov, a representative from the Crimean Ministry for Science and Education, Youth and Sports, expressed his satisfaction by the tournament having become a traditional one, and his gratitude to “Alraid” for supporting national sports and propagating healthy life style in Crimea.

reporter.