Colombo, Sri Lanka – May 25, 2025. On this historic day for Kurash, one of the world’s largest sports organizations, the International Military Sports Council (CISM), officially recognized Kurash as a sport in its calendar. This important decision was made at the CISM General Assembly, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from May 17 to 25, 2025.
Founded in 1948 and Headquartered in Belgium, CISM is an influential International Organization that brings together 140 Member States and promotes peace and friendship among military forces through sport.
This achievement is the result of consistent efforts, negotiations, and cooperation between the International Kurash Association (IKA), Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Uzbekistan Kurash Federation.
The presentation on Kurash, prepared by IKA Technical Director Mr. Ravi Kapoor at the General Assembly, was received with great interest by the CISM leadership. As a result, Kurash was included in the CISM calendar.
The first official Kurash competition within the CISM framework, the Kurash Challenge Cup, will be held in Uzbekistan on September 5-6, 2026. It is important to note that the final day of the competition, September 6, coincides with World Kurash Day.
The President of the International Kurash Association, Haider Farman, expressed his gratitude to the General Secretary of the IKA, Mr. Reza Nassiri, who actively participated in this important process and promoted the initiative, as well as to the CISM leadership, the Minister of the  Sport of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Uzbekistan Kurash Federation.
“This is a proud and joyful day for the World Kurash Family. Kurash is not just a sport—it is a spiritual heritage that symbolizes peace and honor. Its inclusion in the CISM sports program marks a new high point in the International Arena, especially among military athletes,” the IKA President said in his letter.
The official inclusion of Kurash in the CISM framework marks a new stage in its International development. This opens up great opportunities not only for athletes but also for national federations and millions of fans. Now Kurash will serve not only as a sport, but also as a bridge of friendship between different peoples, cultures, and armies. The world eagerly awaits its official debut in 2026, which will mark a new page in the glorious history of Kurash, based on discipline, tradition, and global unity.

The registration deadline for the Asian Kurash Championship, which will be held in Cheongju, South Korea, from July 30 to August 5, 2025, has been extended.
According to the decision of the organising committee, in order to create additional opportunities for national federations in Asia, 9 more days have been given to register participants.

Originally, the registration deadline for this championship was set for June 1. However, taking into account the requests made by national teams, this deadline has been extended to June 9, based on the principle of commonality and stability in the approach.

The fact that about 500 participants from 21 countries have registered so far is a practical expression of the fact that interest in the championship is growing year by year.

At the same time, the process of preparing official documents and obtaining visas for countries that require a visa to enter the Republic of Korea will begin from June 9. National Federations are requested to implement these processes on time.

It is important that this competition is organised as a single championship between seniors, cadets and juniors for the first time in history. This not only expands the opportunities of athletes, but also serves as a significant platform for the young generation to gain international experience.