On the eve of the 14th World Kurash Wrestling Championship in Ashgabat, the event participants visited the State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan. Guests of the museum immersed themselves in the centuries-old history of Turkmenistan, viewing exhibitions in eight halls located on two floors, informs a Turkmenportal correspondent.

Here, museum staff introduced foreign coaches and athletes to archaeological finds, national values and achievements of Turkmenistan over the years of independence. Participants of the 2023 World Cup left a museum rich in history and cultural heritage with new impressions and knowledge.

-The tour of the museums of the Turkmen capital made an indelible impression, noted the President of the Kurash Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bahrom Muminov. – For the first time I visited Ashgabat in 2017, when the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games were held. Over the years, Ashgabat has undoubtedly become prettier; many wonderful facilities have appeared, including sports ones.

He also noted that 12 athletes from Kazakhstan will participate in the upcoming competitions. – In recent years, Kazakh kures, as well as Uzbek kurash, have rapidly become popular in our country. In Kazakhstan, kurash was registered as an official sport in 2005. In kurash it is forbidden to fight on the ground, lying down or sitting. This makes kurash truly fast, dynamic and exciting for the viewer, and also helps wrestlers avoid many injuries. The traditional types of wrestling among the Turkic peoples are kures, kurash, goresh, kuresh, gulesh, etc., one might say they have the same root. To popularize the Kazakh kures, our country also holds the republican tournament “Kazakhstan Barysy” every year. In modern Kazakhstan, this martial arts is very popular, and kures competitions are held at holidays and celebrations.

Let us remind that more than 490 people have registered for the World Championships in Ashgabat, including athletes (243), coaches, judges and other officials from 53 countries. The opening ceremony of the World Championship will take place today, November 25, in the Olympic village. The event is scheduled to start at 19:30 local time.

The Turkmenistan national team will be represented by 15 athletes at the tournament. The men's team included: Vepa Ovlyakulyev (weight category up to 60 kg), Dovlet Hamrakulyev (up to 66 kg), Shatlyk Jumaniyazov (up to 73 kg), Dayanch Omirov (up to 81 kg), Sanzhar Abdyrahmanov (up to 90 kg), Ruslan Esgerov (up to 100 kg), Sapa Sapayev (over 100 kg).

And in the women's: Ayshirin Haydarova (up to 48 kg), Aynur Amanova (up to 52 kg), Gulshat Annayeva (up to 57 kg), Dinara Rozykulova (up to 63 kg), Maria Lohova (up to 70 kg), Sabina Kadyrova (up to 78 kg), Jahan Muhammedova (up to 87 kg), Sabina Agajanova (over 87 kg).