Freestyle Wrestling Tournament in Shklov: Focus on young hopefuls

President of the Belarusian NOC Viktor Lukashenko has opened the 44th National Freestyle Wrestling Tournament in Memory of Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolai Karnachenok in his hometown of Shklov.

This year's tournament is timed to the 50th anniversary of the wrestling department of the Shklov District sports school. The president of the NOC did wrestling here and won a silver medal at competitions back in the day.



“I am very happy to be here, in my hometown, among my compatriots. Back in the day, more than 30 years ago, I was one of those young guys who took part in the tournament in memory of Nikolai Karnachenok. It was my first serious competition and I was nervous as I was waiting for my bout,” Viktor Lukashenko said sharing his memories.

The head of the NOC thanked the coaches for their work and patience, for putting their heart and mind into training their students.



“Probably, wrestling, just like other martial arts, is not as spectacular as team sports, but it is here that your personality, fighting spirit and the desire to win against all odds are forged. I wish all the athletes to perform at the top of their game, to show courage, the will to win and respect for the rival. Let every fight be fair and solid,” Viktor Lukashenko noted.

The president of the NOC of Belarus could not come empty-handed. He handed over a certificate from sponsors to the sports school of Shklov District. This money will be used to promote wrestling in Shklov District, and by extension in entire Belarus. Sports equipment and gear will definitely come in handy for fledgling athletes.

The young athletes welcomed the silver medalist of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in women's wrestling Iryna Kurachkina, the medalist of the European Wrestling Championships and the 2nd European Games Veranika Ivanova, two-time world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, Chairman of the Belarusian Wrestling Federation Alim Selimov, as well as the first students, coaches of the freestyle wrestling department of the sports school of Shklov District.



All in all, more than 470 young athletes, including 70 from Russia, will take part in the tournament in memory of Nikolai Karnachenok. The tournament is running on 19-21 February.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus

Photos of the NOC of Belarus