Yesterday, on 4 March, an online meeting took place with the participation of Mr. Marko Petric, Sports Director of the prestigious organisation International School Sport Federation (ISF), which is engaged in developing school sports at the international level, Mr. Reza Nassiri, Secretary General of the International Kurash Association, and Mansur Mirzaev, Head of the IKA Administration.
During the meeting, a detailed presentation was conducted regarding the international development of Kurash, its role in youth sports, and the prospects for cooperation with the school sports system. In the presentation, it was particularly noted that the number of people practising Kurash, especially in countries such as Uzbekistan, India, and Iran, is very high. It was also emphasised that the modern sports infrastructure formed in Uzbekistan, as well as the rich experience of the Kurash school, serve as an important basis for international cooperation.
During the dialogue, special attention was also paid to the implementation of the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to this Resolution, it is planned to gradually introduce the sport of Kurash in all general education schools of the country. Through this initiative, the goal is not only to increase the number of young athletes, but also to expand the corps of qualified teachers and coaches in Kurash.
During the meeting, Mr. Marko Petric also provided information about major competitions in the school sports calendar. In particular, he noted that in 2027 competitions in the U-15 age category are planned to be held in Serbia, while the contests in the U-18 category are planned to take place in Mexico within the framework of the ISF World Cup individual sports programme. At the same time, he expressed with pleasure his support for the possibility of including the sport of Kurash in the programme of the ISF World Combat Games.
At the conclusion of the negotiations, an agreement was reached that the International Kurash Association will conduct additional consultations with the Ministry of Sports of Uzbekistan, after which the next meeting will be organised with the aim of bringing the cooperation to a new stage and determining specific practical steps.
