More than 200 athletes from 5 countries will take part in the traditional freestyle wrestling tournament in Vitebsk

January 21, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA/. More than 200 athletes from 5 countries will take part in the XVIII International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament dedicated to the memory of Captain 3rd Rank A. Ispenkov and the fallen crew members of the nuclear submarine "Komsomolets", which will start on January 22 in Vitebsk. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Department of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Regional Executive Committee. Wrestlers born in 1993-1995 from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, and all regions of Belarus will gather in the regional center. Over three days, young athletes will compete for a total of 23 sets of awards. Boys will wrestle in 13 weight categories (the lightest is 32 kg, the heaviest is over 100 kg), and girls will determine the strongest in 10 categories (from 38 kg to over 70 kg). The competitions will be held at the Central Sports Complex. Traditionally, the sister of Anatoly Ispenkov, a native of the Vitebsk region, will take part in the opening ceremony of the tournament. The final bouts will take place on January 24. Winners and prize-winners will be awarded medals and honorary prizes, as well as valuable gifts. For representatives of the national wrestling school, these competitions will be the first stage of forming the national team for participation in the first Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, as well as in the European Cadet Championship, which will be held in 2010. During the memorial wrestling tournament, a rich cultural program is provided for the teams. Athletes will honor the memory of the fallen submariners and lay flowers on the grave of Anatoly Ispenkov in the Shumilinsky district, and wreaths and flowers at the monument to the internationalist soldiers in Vitebsk. In addition, young wrestlers will visit the Museum of Internationalist Soldiers and other cultural and educational institutions, and get acquainted with the sights of the regional center. -0-