What will the year 2012 be for kurash was the theme of a recent interview with Umid Yakubov, IKA secretary general.

For the years the Kurash wrestlers from dozens of countries have been able to assess the traditionally high level of the tournament in Thessaloniki. Greek and European federations of Kurash brilliantly organize this competition, and their example serves as a reference point for all other tournaments of the year, for there will be a lot of them on all continents.

Asia and Africa demonstrate the greatest enthusiasm, although Americas don’t fall aside. In April, for example, Calgary hosts the first Open Cup of Canada among men. Canadians showed a real interest in Kurash during the second Grand Prix of the President of Uzbekistan in Bordeaux, France. So we expect this tournament to stir up a significant progress of Kurash in North America. Moreover, Santo Domingo will be hosting the Pan-American Championship this November.

The African Championships to be held in mid-summer in Brazzaville, Congo, goes after a tournament in Swaziland and South Africa’s Open Championship in Johannesburg. European Championships to take place in May in Istanbul, Turkey, while Asian Championships will be held in Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan, where athletes will also be fighting for the prizes of traditional Amir Temur International Tournament. There will also be Open Championship in South Korea, the Puria Vali Tournament in Tehran, Iran and Rajiv Gandhi Tournament in New Delhi, India, the third championship of the Arab countries in Beirut, Lebanon.

The main event of the year will be the 7^th World Youth Championship to take place in Bournemouth, England two months after the Olympics. Symbolically, isn’t it? Since Kurash is gradually moving toward its main goal of entering the Olympic program.