Tatarstan resident becomes president of International Belt Wrestling Federation

Tatarstan resident becomes president of International Belt Wrestling Federation

The Tatarstan Ministry of Sports held a meeting of the International Belt Wrestling Federation Congress. It elected a new president of the organization. Khabir Khabibullin, the federation's secretary general, became the president by unanimous decision.

Previously, the post was held by Rafik Valiyev from Kazakhstan. He, in turn, was elected secretary general of the federation. The first deputy minister of sports of the Republic of Tatarstan, Khalil Shaikhutdinov, became vice president.

68-year-old Khabibullin was born in the village of Savinovo in the Oktyabrsky district. He has been working in sports since 1998, when he headed the Sports Wrestling Society LLC. He has been involved in belt wrestling since the sport was developed thanks to the Bashkir businessman Rif Gainanov (who died in 2009). Khabibullin also holds the post of executive director of the Tatarstan Belt Wrestling Federation.

Belt wrestling is similar to Tatar koresh, but there are more lenient rules: for example, sweeps are allowed. At one time, this sport was considered for inclusion in the Olympic program.