KURESH

KURESH, a traditional wrestling of the Bashkirs, a competition of two sportsmen holding a standing position and grappling at each other’s waist belts with both hands. The wrestler who makes the opponent lose his standing position and throws him off the feet by means of any of the permitted techniques (triping and undercuts are prohibited) or scores the maximum number of points wins the competition. K. has long been the main competition at the folk festivals (ref. Sabantuy). The style of wrestling is also popular with other Turkic nations. In 1932, K. was first included in the programme of the Ural‑Kuzbass Spartakiad (an international sports event in the Soviet Union), where the Bashkirian wrestler Kh.M.Aminev became an undisputed champion. The first K. сlub was opened at the Salavat Yulayev Sports Club in Ufa in late 60s. K. championships have been held in the RB since 1948. G.L.Kudakayev, F.G.Kutdusov, M.Mamleyev, R.G.Murtazin became the first Masters of Kuresh Sport of the RF in 1972. The national team of the RB — the champion of the RSFSR (1973) and Russia (1999, 2001), the silver medalist of the championships of the RSFSR (1972) and Russia (2002–14). V.I.Ilyasov, A.A.Kim, Kh.M.Kutushev, K.Kh.Latypov, F.Kh.Urazbakhtin, S.M.Khusainov, Kh.M.Yusupov and others are the champions of the RSFSR. R.G.Bikimbetov, R.R.Galimov, R.Z.Islamov, A.V.Zulkarnayev, N.Zh.Mukhametyanov, A.R.Rakhmatullin, D.R.Safin, V.M.Haybullin, A.A.Khalikov, A.A.Khafizov, A.A.Yakupov, I.Yu.Yakupov and others are the champions of Russia. The K. Сhampionships of the RSFSR and Russia 1961, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1999, 2001, 2011, 2014 were held in Ufa, Salavat (1973), Oktyabrsky (1978, 1981), and Tuymazy (1988). Since 2003, many K. athletes have been competing in belt wrestling. World K. Championship 2007, the World K. Cup 2012 took place in Ufa, while the World K. Cup 2011 — in Oktyabrsky, and the World Belt Wrestling Championship 2013 — in Salavat. The RB National Belt Wrestling Koresh Federation has operated since 1966.