From June 25 to 28, 2026, the Republic of Tatarstan hosted a landmark sporting event—the 15th World Koresh Championship and World Junior Koresh Championship. Marking the tournament's anniversary edition, the event once again demonstrated the growing international recognition of Koresh as a unique traditional ethnic sport.
More than 300 athletes from 32 countries took part in the competition. A total of 11 sets of medals were contested in the men's competition and 10 sets in the junior boys' division. The championship program consisted of two main stages: the preliminary bouts were held at the Kazan Boxing and Table Tennis Center, while the finals and the official award ceremony took place at the open-air venue in the village of Minger. This symbolic setting connected modern sporting traditions with the rich heritage of the Sabantuy national festival, where Koresh originated more than 1,100 years ago.
The official ceremonies were attended by:
The highlight of the championship was the absolute weight category final, where Russian athlete Radik Salakhov claimed a convincing victory over Georgian national wrestling champion Ucha Tabatadze.
As the Absolute World Champion, Radik Salakhov received the tournament's grand prize—a car presented on behalf of the Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. The award ceremony was conducted by Jauhat Minnakhmetov, President of the International Koresh Federation, together with Olympic champions David Musulbes, Shamil Khisamutdinov, Alexey Mishin, and Khalil Shaikhutdinov, First Deputy Minister of Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The successful organization of the World Koresh Championship and World Junior Koresh Championship reaffirmed the tournament's status as a prestigious platform for strengthening international sports cooperation and promoting intercultural dialogue. The event also made a significant contribution to the worldwide promotion and development of traditional Koresh wrestling within the international sporting community.
More than 300 athletes from 32 countries took part in the competition. A total of 11 sets of medals were contested in the men's competition and 10 sets in the junior boys' division. The championship program consisted of two main stages: the preliminary bouts were held at the Kazan Boxing and Table Tennis Center, while the finals and the official award ceremony took place at the open-air venue in the village of Minger. This symbolic setting connected modern sporting traditions with the rich heritage of the Sabantuy national festival, where Koresh originated more than 1,100 years ago.
The official ceremonies were attended by:
- Jauhat Minnakhmetov, President of the International Koresh Federation;
- Vladimir Leonov, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan;
- Vasily Petrov, Minister of Sports of the Chuvash Republic;
- Akira Muto, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Russian Federation;
- Omurbek Umetaliev, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Kyrgyz Republic;
- Erkin Abzalov, Justice General of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Asian Games Coordinator of the World Ethnosport Confederation.
The highlight of the championship was the absolute weight category final, where Russian athlete Radik Salakhov claimed a convincing victory over Georgian national wrestling champion Ucha Tabatadze.
As the Absolute World Champion, Radik Salakhov received the tournament's grand prize—a car presented on behalf of the Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. The award ceremony was conducted by Jauhat Minnakhmetov, President of the International Koresh Federation, together with Olympic champions David Musulbes, Shamil Khisamutdinov, Alexey Mishin, and Khalil Shaikhutdinov, First Deputy Minister of Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The successful organization of the World Koresh Championship and World Junior Koresh Championship reaffirmed the tournament's status as a prestigious platform for strengthening international sports cooperation and promoting intercultural dialogue. The event also made a significant contribution to the worldwide promotion and development of traditional Koresh wrestling within the international sporting community.