About 200 athletes from four countries will take part in the freestyle wrestling tournament in Vitebsk

January 21, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA/. About 200 athletes from four countries will start today in Vitebsk at the XIX Interstate Freestyle Wrestling Tournament dedicated to the memory of Captain 3rd Rank A. Ispenkov and the fallen crew members of the Komsomolets nuclear submarine. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the department of physical culture, sports and tourism of the regional executive committee. The solemn opening ceremony of the competition will be held on January 22. The final bouts are scheduled for January 24. Wrestlers born in 1993-1995 from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and all regions of Belarus will gather in the regional center. Over four 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). Girls will determine the strongest in 10 categories (from 38 kg to over 70 kg). The competitions will be held at the sports palace of the Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine. 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 the 2011 European Championship. During the memorial wrestling tournament, a rich cultural program is provided for the teams. According to tradition, athletes will honor the memory of the fallen submariners and lay flowers at the grave of Anatoly Ispenkov in the Shumilino district, as well as wreaths and flowers at the monument to internationalist soldiers in Vitebsk. In addition, young wrestlers will visit the Museum of Internationalist Soldiers and a number of other cultural and educational institutions, and will get acquainted with the sights of the regional center. -0-