Kertmen hosts traditional wrestling festival after 20-year hiatus

The 3rd Kertmen Karakucak and Şalvar Wrestling Festival was held in the Kertmen neighborhood of Kahramanmaraş, marking the return of traditional wrestling to the area after a 20-year hiatus. Organized by the Onikişubat Municipality in collaboration with the Turkish Traditional Wrestling Federation, the event featured 733 wrestlers from over 40 provinces across Turkey.

Competitions were held across various categories, including minis, stars, adults, and village şalvar wrestling. The festival included participants ranging from local wrestlers to European and World champions, as well as Kırkpınar gold belt holders. In the Village Wrestling category, İbrahim Avcı was named head wrestler after defeating Alper Domurcuk. In the Karakucak wrestling category, Mehmet Emin Demir secured the title by defeating Yunus Emre Yıldız.

As part of the event, a new wrestling arena with a capacity of 3,000 spectators was inaugurated in Kertmen to support future generations of athletes. Local officials, including Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fırat Görgel and Onikişubat Mayor Hanifi Toptaş, attended the festival to emphasize the cultural importance of the sport.