The 22nd Ordinary Congress of the International Kurash Association (IKA) was held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, as part of the XV Senior World Kurash Championships.
Delegates from 67 countries attended in person, and representatives from more than 30 other countries took part online.
The Congress first considered the powers of Mr. Ziyoviddin Khodjiniyazov, who had been serving as acting IKA President since IKA President Haider Farman’s resignation. Delegates ratified Mr. Khodjiniyazov as IKA President until the next Congress and Presidential election in 2027.
The Congress was chaired by IKA President Mr. Khodjiniyazov. Attendees included Otabek Umarov, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia; Adkham Ikramov, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan and IKA Honorary Vice President; Yerbol Myrzabosynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan; heads of continental confederations; representatives of national federations; and media.
The Congress agenda included reports by IKA leadership, the activities of the International Kurash Institute and the Technical Director in 2025–2026, Kurash’s participation in the international sports arena, and prospects for its further development.
Speaking at the Congress, Mr. Otabek Umarov, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia and First Deputy Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, focused on Kurash’s international development. He noted that nearly 30 million people in more than 100 countries now practice Kurash, and stressed the significant contribution of IKA, national federations, athletes, coaches, and specialists to these results.
He also highlighted the consistent support for the development of Kurash from His Excellency Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and IKA Honorary President, and said that the main goal of the sport is its inclusion in the Olympic Games program. Mr. Otabek Umarov announced Uzbekistan’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation with IKA and its members in pursuit of this goal.
The Congress also considered the candidates for the 2027 elections of the President and members of the Directing Committee of the International Kurash Association. A decision was made to recommend Mr. Otabek Umarov’s candidacy for the post of IKA President.
Mr. Ziyoviddin Khodjiniyazov’s candidacy was recommended for the post of First Vice President of the Association in next year’s election.
It was announced that the exact date and venue of the 2027 Election Congress will be determined at the meeting of the Association’s Directing Committee, to be held in Istanbul on December 19–22, 2026.
In addition, Mr. Bekhzod Mukhtaramin of Uzbekistan was ratified as IKA Vice President for International Relations and Games, and Mr. Yusuf Yildirim of Türkiye as IKA Director for Financial matters.
During the Congress, the participants also considered the admission of new national federations to the Association, the improvement of the IKA Statutes, the competition and refereeing rules, and a rating system.
Prospects for expanding Kurash’s participation in international multi-sport games were discussed, along with cooperation with CISM, the Central American and Caribbean Games, the Turan International Federation, and the International Blind Sports Federation.
