Over the last two months, Chechen athletes have achieved good results in both regional and local wrestling tournaments.

The 36th International Henri Deglane Wrestling Tournament was held from November 25-27 in Nice, France. This year one hundred and sixty nine athletes from 16 different countries were in attendance. A dozen Chechen wrestlers, most of them from different clubs in France, were also among the participants. Here are our athlete’s results:

In the 60 kg weight class, Abubakar Askhabov: 2nd place, Silver Medal; Tablikhan Gukhigov, 4th place.
In the 66 kg weight class, Zelimkhan Khuseynov: 1st place and Golden Medal; Said Gaiytayev: 3rd place and Bronze Medal.
In the 74 kg weight class, Akhmed Aybuyev: 3rd place and Bronze Medal.
In the 84 kg weight class, Said Itayev: 3rd place and Bronze Medal.
In the 96 kg weight class, Murat Khunkayev: 2nd place, Silver Medal; Muslim Saypulayev: 3rd place and Bronze Medal.

On November 27th, the Belgian city of Kalmthout hosted a tournament for Benelux countries in the Greco-Roman style. Sixty two athletes from 11 clubs in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg participated in the tournament. Here are our athlete’s results:

On December 26th, the last wresting tournament of 2010 in Austria was held in the city of Linz. Chechen coach Umar Chekarbiyev’s pupils achieved good results. Twelve teams from Austria participated in the tournament and Umar’s team, “The Voest” was third. Abkhan Khakimov, Rasul Radzhapov and Umar Yakubov won gold medals in their weight classes. After the competition, a group of athletes were awarded with the “Master of Sports in Upper-Austria”. Four of them were Chechen wrestlers: Rizvan Khakimov, Ibragim Arsamerzaev, Akhmed Biskaev and Baysangur Musaev.

However, on December 8th, Zelimkhan Khadzhiev, a young representative of Chechen diaspora in France, received an honorary medal to honor the 150th anniversary of the annexation of Nice to France. Zelimkhan is just 16 years old and has fought for a wrestling club in Nice, Lutte Club de Nice for six years. He won the championship for the third time among youths in France and recently won third place in the European championship. Thus, the wife of Nice city mayor Christian Estrosi presented Zelimkhan with an honorary medal during a ceremony.

*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco