SOCHI (April 23) – United World Wrestling and the Iranian Wrestling Federation held the first-ever international display of Iranian women’s belt wrestling Tuesday at the SportAccord Conference in Sochi.

The exhibition, led by Iranian women wrestlers Sahel GOUREN and Akhram KHANY took part during a larger demonstration about the worldwide appeal of belt wrestling, a discipline the international governing body is looking to develop.

“We are grateful to United World Wrestling for the opportunity to tell the entire world that women in Iran can also practice wrestling”, said Khany. “Sahil and I have husbands and they support us in our choice. Girls should not be afraid to realize themselves in wrestling in any country of the world.”

Belt wrestling is particularly strong in Iran, Armenia, the northern Caucuses, Kyrgyzstan and among the Tatar people. Representatives from around Europe and Asia also traveled to SportAccord to display their particular cultural style of belt wrestling.

“Olympic wrestling it is just the tip of pyramid and the national sports of wrestling are laid at its foundation,” said Georgy BRYUSOV, head of United World Wrestling’s “Sport For All” Commission. “These sports constitute a significant part of history and culture for many wrestling nations. Together these nations and their histories help form United World Wrestling.”

For the Iranian women wrestlers, they believe that belt wrestling will be key to their futures in the Olympic movement. “I like wrestling very much and I hope I can follow in the ways of our country’s great wrestling heroes,” said Gouren. “I believe that near future Iranian women wrestling as same as the men in freestyle and that we will achieve a valuable position in wrestling world.”

The United World Wrestling continental championships start Friday in Santiago, Chile with the Pan-American Championships. The tournament will also serve as a qualifier for the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto.