KAZAN – The Summer Universiade in Kazan embraces 27 different sports. Besides the obvious ones like football, gymnastics and swimming, there are also less known sports. However, the fact that there is almost no awareness of them within grand society does not at all imply that those sports are less professional or less worthy.
One of the sports that fits into this category is belt wrestling. As the word more or less reveals, the purpose here is to bring your competitor down on the mat by pulling on his or her belt. Belt wrestling is seen by many people as being very similar to judo. They also work for example with weight categories and the clothing is more or less alike. Nonetheless it should be noticed that there are of course other aspects inherent to this sport.
Although the sport is less known in some countries, it is definitely popular in Russia. Out of 19 different categories, the Russian athletes managed to get 12 golden medals at the end of the Belt Wresting competition. On top of that they also got 3 silver and 4 bronze ones. No words needed to show the Russian enthusiasm about this enjoyable sport.
Throughout the years, belt wrestling has made quite an evolution. Being one of the 27 sports at The Summer Universiade in Kazan is a first step, but the aim is of course to become a sport at the Olympics. The mission of the IATWS, the International Association of Traditional Wrestling Sports, will thus be continued.
Lien Cypers, FISU Young Reporter (BEL) – Photos: C. Pierre/FISU
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