September 6 — World Kurash Day

Today is a blessed day that unites the great victories and grand aspirations of Kurash, our ancient value and a sport with a thousand-year history inherited from our ancestors.

Exactly 28 years ago, on September 6, 1998, the International Kurash Association was established. This historic decision ushered in a new era, bringing our national heritage to the world stage and making kurash an integral part of the international sports movement.

On September 6, 1998, in our capital, Tashkent, with the support of our state and the efforts of a group of kurash devotees, the founding congress of the International Kurash Association was held with representatives from 28 countries. Kurash, a new sport, was officially introduced to the global sports community.

Thanks to the extensive and effective work carried out over the past years, dozens of world and continental championships, exhibition performances, and seminars on kurash have been organized worldwide in a short period. This has created the infrastructure to develop our national sport—which embodies the ideals of courage, bravery, patriotism, and humanism—on the international stage.

By a relevant decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in 2017, September 6 was recognized as the Day of the National Sport "Kurash."

Over the past period, special attention has been paid at the state level to supporting the International Kurash Association and its system of federations and institutions, as well as to strengthening their material and technical base.

Kurash, as a sport, has followed an unparalleled path of development. Now flourishing in nearly 140 countries, kurash has achieved a prestigious international status, uniting millions of people and building a bridge of friendship between continents and cultures.

As a result of comprehensive efforts, kurash has firmly established its place as a distinct sport in the programs of all disciplines of the Asian Games.

Thanks to the constant support and attention of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Honorary President of the International Kurash Association, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the hard work of thousands of dedicated individuals, the sport of kurash has been included in the programs of the Islamic Solidarity Games, the International Military Sports Council (CISM) competitions, and the World Nomad Games. As an important sport in these multi-event games, kurash competitions are systematically held, with athletes wearing yaktaks emblazoned with the flag of Uzbekistan. Winners and medalists are being determined.

Another noteworthy aspect is that with the rise of kurash to an international level, several Uzbek terms such as "gilam," "ta'zim," "yaktak," "yonbosh," "kurash," "chala," and "dakki" have entered international sports terminology, becoming an integral part of sports education.

At the same time, the work of federations, coaches, referees, organizers, and millions of wrestlers in hundreds of countries has made kurash an important part of the global sports movement.

Behind every victory, there is a human destiny, and behind every competition, there is immense effort. Behind each flag lies the dream of those who believed in the idea of kurash and worked for its future.

Today, looking back, we are proud of the path we have traveled. But the history of kurash has not yet been fully written. Its greatest chapters are still ahead.

The great dream and goal of our people, of thousands upon thousands of wrestlers and sports enthusiasts, is to see the day when kurash becomes an integral part of the Olympic movement and to witness athletes, wearing yaktaks adorned with the flag of Uzbekistan, participating in the quadrennial games.

We believe that kurash, which promotes humanity's noblest values and glorifies honesty and humanism, will one day take its rightful place in the Olympic family.

Today, wrestlers, coaches, referees, national federations, and sports fans are widely celebrating this occasion.

T.Roziyev, UzA