Gushtingiri (Tajik wrestling)
Gushtingiri is the traditional national wrestling of the Tajiks, in which opponents hold each other's belts. It is usually contested in a national robe tied with a soft belt. Grips may be taken anywhere: on the belt, the arm or the collar of the robe.
Origins
The name comes from the Tajik word kushti, "wrestling", whose root means "belt" in Middle Persian. Tajik sources trace the history of the sport back more than 3,000 years. By tradition, children open the competition, followed by teenagers, and finally the renowned wrestlers known as pahlavans. The 1st World Championship was held in Dushanbe in 2024.
Rules
Grips may be taken on the belt, the arm and the collar of the robe. Holds below the waist are not allowed, but leg trips are permitted. The wrestler who throws the opponent onto their back wins.