Ziyoviddin Khodjiniyazov, Acting President of the International Kurash Association, held an online meeting with Paul Sawyer, Chairman of the IKA Athletes’ Committee. The meeting addressed issues related to protecting athletes’ interests, supporting their activities, and improving the Athletes’ Committee’s work in accordance with international requirements.
During the meeting, Ziyoviddin Khodjiniyazov instructed Paul Sawyer to prepare a presentation for the next IKA Congress and Directing Committee meeting, containing forward-looking proposals and initiatives aimed at further developing the activities of the Athletes’ Committee. As noted, these initiatives should contribute to further strengthening the International Kurash Association’s membership process within AIMS.
During the meeting, participants exchanged views on supporting athletes’ post-career professional activities, involving them in the Kurash system, effectively utilising the educational programs offered by the International Kurash Institute (IKI), and developing new educational programmes for athletes.
Paul Sawyer, in turn, emphasised the importance of training sports medicine specialists who meet international standards, developing a qualified workforce in the field of anti-doping, and creating educational and methodological materials in collaboration with the IKI. The parties agreed on close cooperation with the IKA headquarters and the International Kurash Institute in these areas.
The meeting also discussed prospects for promoting Kurash in the United Kingdom, and there was an exchange of views on organising seminars and small-scale competitions in the initial phase, to eventually scale them up to the level of major international tournaments.
The online meeting was attended by Mansur Mirzaev, Head of the IKA Administration; Umid Yakubov, IKA Advisor; Khabibulla Tadjiev, Rector of the International Kurash Institute; and staff members of the IKA International Relations Department and Media Team.
