Athletes from Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to compete in Yakutsk at the mas-wrestling federation's 30th anniversary cup

To mark its 30th anniversary, the Mas-Wrestling Federation of Sakha (Yakutia) will hold a Jubilee Cup on 4 December at the Triumph sports complex in Yakutsk. Organisers call it the largest mas-wrestling start in the region this year, with more than 100 athletes expected.

Continental teams compete for the first time: Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, North America and South America. The European squad includes Azerbaijan's Jahangir Yagubov and Hungary's Tamas Deli. Keldibek Ataybek uulu, Abdel Esangulov and Eldana Bolotbekova come from Kyrgyzstan, Asian champion Sergey Trofimenko from Uzbekistan, and Iran's Reza Heytasi, a World Nomad Games winner, who will first compete at the world championship in Kazan and then fly to Yakutsk.

Six Yakutian ulus teams (Amga, Megino-Kangalas, Tatta, Khangalas, Ust-Aldan and Churapcha) will also take part, with Megino-Kangalas the defending champion. Teams meet “wall against wall” in weight categories, nine athletes per team, and group winners go through to the final. Federation president Anatoly Baishev spoke for the organisers.