Said Bargandzhia

Freestyle wrestling competitions - the annual tournament for the cup of the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the WAC Mussa Ekzekov, which took place this year as part of the “Abaza” cultural and sports festival, ended in Gudauta. Young athletes from different cities competed in 17 weight and two age categories.

The name of the main winner will be announced on the third day of the festival, at a holiday in Sukhum. The remaining winners became known today.

The Executive Director of the “Abaza” freestyle wrestling club Leonid Bojgua noted that the team from Abkhazia earned the most gold medals.

“Medals and cups were awarded to all the winners. The first place winners were also awarded 10 thousand rubles each. But the main intrigue is who will get the main cup - the cup of the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the WAC Mussa Ekzekov and we will find it out tomorrow at a gala concert,” he recalled.

Following the results of the tournament, Adam Tsveiba from Abkhazia was recognized as the best referee, Alan Tabulov from Karachay-Cherkessia was the best wrestler, and the Abkhaz wrestler Danil Pilia got the prize for the best technique.

Alan Nakhushev from Kabardino-Balkaria received the award for the will to win. All coaches, whose wards were awarded, received certificates.

Bojgua noted that the tournament was held at a high level and once again found many talented athletes.

“The tournament brought together about 200 people and was held in a fraternal atmosphere. Many athletes expressed hope to meet at this tournament next year,” he said.

The head of the administration of the Gudauta district, Ruslan Ladaria, considers the freestyle wrestling tournament for the Mussa Ekzekov cup extremely important and necessary.

“We are very pleased that this tournament is taking place in the hero town of Gudauta. This tournament is one of the most reputable, it brings together many young and talented athletes. We support this tournament and will continue to host it with pleasure in our town,” Ladaria promised.

The head freestyle wrestling coach of Abkhazia, Jarnaz Beniya, in turn, noted that the tournament for the Ekzekov cup is respected not only in Abkhazia, but also abroad. He also noted the contribution of Mussa Ekzekov to the development of the Abkhaz wrestling.

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“Thanks to his support, more than 35 people work as trainers and are paid salaries. About 600 athletes throughout Abkhazia are wrestling, they are equipped with all the necessary equipment with the support of Mussa Ekzekov,” said the trainer.

The tournament was attended by a young wrestler from Abkhazia, Leon Bagatelia. Leon is 10 years old, and of these, he has been wrestling for three years.

“My coach is Adam Tsveiba. This is my second time participating in this tournament. Last year I took first place, but this year I wasn’t strong enough. The opponents are not weak. I’ll be training harder and next year I’ll definitely take the main prize,” said the athlete with enthusiasm.

One of the tournament’s gold medalists, Jamal Soltamuradov from Krasnodar, also came to test his strength in the tournament and won.

“I participated in many wrestling tournaments. From the very beginning I was dedicated to winning and ultimately won the gold thanks to perseverance” the wrestler shared.

The tournament was highly appreciated by both the participants themselves and the coaches. So, the coach from Kabardino-Balkaria Ruslan Nakhushev thanked the organizers of the tournament for the invitation and noted the proper level of the competition.

“We have been coming to this tournament for four years now. The tournament is going well. We brought 15 athletes in different age groups,” he said.

The tournament for the Mussa Ekzekov cup was first held in Abkhazia in 2011. Over the years, it has gained popularity outside Abkhazia. This year about 200 athletes from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Krasnodar, Kaliningrad, Sochi, as well as from Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, South Ossetia, Ingushetia, Dagestan and from all towns of Abkhazia took part in the competition. Athletes competed in two age and 17 weight categories. The winner of the main cup of Mussa Ekzekov will become known on Friday, October 15, on the final day of the “Abaza” festival. He will be announced at a gala concert in Sukhum, on the Makhadzhir’s Embankment.