Before flying to Bishkek, the athletes talked to a correspondent of the Public Crimea. Everyone evaluates their chances differently, competes in different weight categories, but all agree on one thing: for them Kuresh is an integral part of Crimean Tatar culture, and the World Championship in Bishkek is a chance to show it to the world.

How intense was the preparation for the Cup? Do you have time to combine this with your personal life and household chores?

Eup Hurdade: I usually have three workouts a week. When I start preparing for such big tournaments, I train for two hours every day. This time they still had a training camp in the village of Zhuravky (Kirov district of Crimea). In the summer I work harder to provide for my family. But before the tournaments you have to put everything aside and dedicate yourself completely to preparation.

Alim Dana: I train four times a week, the other three I spend working in my home village and helping my parents at home.

How is kuresh different from other types of wrestling? Is it harder to fight on the belts than in another style?

Ismail Moldavanov: Greco-Roman wrestling involves work in the semi-corps, in the free - the whole corps works. The kuresh grabs the belt, it cannot be released and torn. In addition, representatives of other styles often fight in Quresh - here you can meet judokas, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers. The arsenal of kuresh is very diverse.

Alim Dana: Quresh in general is a very difficult kind of struggle, because it involves limited action: we are tied to a belt that cannot be let go. To put your opponent on the shoulders, you can use mainly throws and (because we fight in freestyle) footsteps. It is very difficult. Five minutes on the carpet is almost a war.

Read also: Four athletes from the Crimea will represent Ukraine at the World Cup in belt wrestling

Why did you decide to do kuresh? How was your first workout?

Azim Khalilov: I started wrestling when I was 11 years old. He came to the coach himself: he took 50 hryvnias, said nothing to his parents, and went to training with a classmate. I saw other guys training - and I got excited, I wanted to repeat and excel. At dinner he told his parents: they supported.

Ismail Moldavanov: At the age of 17 he started wrestling and kuresh. It was a very conscious choice: firstly, because it is our tradition and part of the culture of the Crimean Tatars, and secondly, because he wanted to learn to defend himself.

Worried about the competition? What place do you expect?

Alim Dana: I'm worried. Of course. But I am supported by my parents and relatives. And, if it is the will of Allah, I will take the prize. Chances are always 50 to 50 - but this time I hope I have a little more.

Ismail Moldavanov: Let's fight, let's see. But in general I count on the first place.

Azim Khalilov: I'm not worried at all. There is no fear - only the desire to become a world champion and represent Ukraine in the future at the Olympic Games in wrestling.