On 6 November 2026, the XXII Ordinary Congress of the International Kurash Association (IKA) will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Organised within the framework of the XV World Kurash Championship, the meeting will review the Association’s activities and achievements in 2025–2026 and address a number of important issues concerning the future development of Kurash.
The Congress agenda includes consideration of membership applications from the national Kurash federations of 12 countries: Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Jordan, France, Syria, Switzerland, Armenia, Italy, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. If approved, these initiatives could open up new opportunities to further expand the international reach of Kurash.
Another key item on the agenda is the introduction of amendments to the International Kurash Rules and Competition Regulations. In particular, the Congress will consider the Challenge System for reviewing appeals or disputed situations, refereeing rules, and the improvement of the ranking system, following the example of other individual combat sports.
The agenda also covers Kurash’s participation in prestigious international sporting events and opportunities for cooperation. These include the first CISM World Challenge Cup, the Central American and Caribbean Games, and matters related to cooperation with the International Turon Federation and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA).
During the meeting, reports are expected to be presented by the IKA leadership, Vice Presidents, the International Kurash Institute and the Technical Director, alongside financial reports. Proposed amendments to the IKA Constitution will also be considered as part of the Congress agenda.
