Turkey hosts IKA's main event of the year

Istanbul successfully hosted the V world junior championships. More than 200 male and female players under 20 years old from around the world representing more than 50 countries of Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania and Pan America gathered in the main city of Turkey to determine the winners in 13 weight categories. This event held from 11 to 16 November 2008 set the record for the world Kurash junior championships in terms of number of participating countries and players.
 
 Gen. Lassana Palenfo, IOC member, President of Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and Honorary President of the African Kurash Union visited both IKA’s Congress and World junior championships as a Honorary Guests.
 
 On 14 November 2008 Istanbul Holyday Inn Hotel hosted the IX Ordinary Congress meeting of the IKA. The Congress members made several important decisions, in particular Mr. Yildirim, President of the Kurash Federation of Turkey was elected to the position of the IKA’s Directing Committee member; Ukraine won elections to host the VII World senior championships to be held in October 2009; 11 new federations were granted full membership of the IKA (Niger, Senegal, Egypt, Philippines, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Jordan, Vietnam, Lebanon and USA); several changes and amendments made to the IKA’s Statutes; 12 people awarded with the IKA’s Golden Medal of Honor for their contribution to Kurash promotion in the world (Mr. Derakhshan (Iran), Mr. Sukhbaatar (Mongolia), Mr. Razavi (Iran), Mr. Dashti (Afghanistan), Mr. Cabos-Duhamel (France), Mr. Muminov (Kazakhstan), Mrs. Chang (Chinese Taipei), Mr. Ostryk (Ukraine), Mr. Saakov (Russia), Mr. Kotliar and Mr. Ben Rozen (both Israel), Mr. Obgaidze (Georgia).
 
 
 The brand new venue called “Hasan Dogan Sport Complex” hosted the world junior championships. The medal distribution was great with 21 different countries representing Asia, Africa, Oceania, Pan America and Europe winning different medals of the championships. Here are the prize-winners of the championships:
 
 Women
 
 Cat. -52
 1. Akkus Sumeyye (Turkey)
 2. Babamuratova Gulbada (Turkmenistan)
 3. Znojek Natalia (Poland)
 3. Nazarova Shokhido (Uzbekistan)
 
 Cat. -57
 1. Ochirpurev Lkhgvakhu (Mongolia)
 2. Daas Sanda (Syria)
 3. Cengiz Kubra (Turkey)
 3. Jepparova Zarina (Turkmenistan)
 
 Cat. -63
 1. Amrani Hofit (Israel)
 2. Blach Dominika (Poland)
 3. Matiyakubova Umida (Uzbekistan)
 3. Aydin Makbule (Turkey)
 
 Cat. -70
 1. De Villiers Moir (New Zealand)
 2. Sukhitashvili T (Georgia)
 3. Doddemeade Chan (South Africa)
 3. Bakacak Sukran (Turkey)
 
 Cat. +70
 1. Kilali Rania (Morocco)
 2. Erenerdi Gulnur (Turkey)
 3. T Togosmaa (Mongolia)
 3. Al Hassan Shaza (Syria)
 
 Men
 
 Cat. -60
 1. G Kherlen (Mongolia)
 2. Batizi Sandor (Hungary)
 3. Yarali Yavuz (Turkey)
 3. Aminyar Elyas (Afghanistan)
 
 Cat. -66
 1. Temirov Muhammet (Turkmenistan)
 2. Van Zyl Gideon Jacob (South Africa)
 3. Sattorov Davronbek (Uzbekistan)
 3. Osishvili Devi (Georgia)
 
 Cat. -73
 1. Imamov Yakhyo (Uzbekistan)
 2. Yanagi Koichiro (Japan)
 3. Giankanidis Georgios (Greece)
 3. Bagneznegni Mojtaba (Iran)
 
 Cat. -81
 1. Ganiev Bahadir (Uzbekistan)
 2. Stefanidis Ioannis (Greece)
 3. Iadze Giorgi (Georgia)
 3. Goncalves Danilo (Brazil)
 
 Cat. -90
 1. Piontek Zack (South Africa)
 2. Naji Fahd (Morocco)
 3. Mahjub Jawad (Iran)
 3. Palatnik Daniel (USA)
 
 Cat. -100
 1. Sharipov Shirin (Uzbekistan)
 2. Keletzian Xristos (Greece)
 3. Hoppal Daniel (Hungary)
 3. Hendi Fouad (Syria)
 
 Cat. +100
 1. Micrichyan Artush (Armenia)
 2. Boltaev Boltaboy (Uzbekistan)
 3. G Ganerdene (Mongolia)
 3. Monfort Anthony (France)
 
 Cat. Open
 1. Iadze Giorgi (Georgia)
 2. Saparov Bektash (Uzbekistan)
 3. Keletzian Xristos (Greece)
 3. Tschernjawski O. (Germany)