The 15th World Kurash Championships, originally scheduled to take place in Bojnord, North Khorasan Province, Iran, from January 31 to February 5, may be postponed or relocated due to ongoing protests in multiple Iranian cities, as per to the International Kurash Association (IKA).
The IKA press service reported that the organization’s executive committee held an emergency videoconference meeting on January 12 to discuss the situation. The committee cited concerns over the safety of championship participants as a key factor in evaluating whether to proceed with the tournament in Iran. Options considered included postponing the event or moving it to an alternative host country.
Approximately 300 athletes and officials from over 35 countries had registered for the competition. The IKA noted that the Iranian Kurash Federation had completed a high level of preparation for the championships prior to the current political unrest.
Following the meeting, the IKA Executive Committee approved a 10-day monitoring period to assess the evolving situation in Iran. Should political conditions remain unstable, the association indicated that the tournament could be held in another country, with a potential rescheduled date in March or April. Uzbekistan and Egypt have expressed their readiness to host the event if relocation becomes necessary.
The IKA statement emphasized that participant safety remains the primary consideration in finalizing decisions regarding the timing and location of the 15th World Kurash Championships.
