More than 200 athletes representing 30 educational institutions and sports organizations from across Bangladesh gathered at the Russian House in Dhaka for the Ethnosport National Open Championship 2026, a press release said.

Young men and women competed in Mas-Wrestling and intellectual games, demonstrating their strength, skill, concentration and competitive spirit.

The championship was organized by the International Ethnosport Bangladesh Association (IEBA) with the aim of promoting ethnosports, youth participation, cultural heritage and international friendship through sport.

In his welcome address, Md. Al Mamun, President of IEBA, highlighted the growing role of ethnosports in cultural exchange and youth development. He noted the Association’s efforts to expand the ethnosport movement in Bangladesh and encourage young athletes to participate in national and international competitions.

The event was attended by distinguished guests including İslam Güre, General Manager of Turkish Airlines Inc. in Dhaka; Ashiq Imran, Honorary Consul General of the Russian Federation in Chittagong; Kazim Karabacak, Coordinator of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Bangladesh; Sergey Nacharov, Attaché of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bangladesh; and Mahfuzul Alam Khan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bangladesh.

Alexandra Khlevnoy, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, emphasized the importance of ethnosports in preserving cultural heritage and strengthening friendship among nations. She also encouraged Bangladeshi athletes to pursue opportunities to participate in international competitions, including the upcoming World Mas-Wrestling Championship in Russia.

The winners of the championship will form the Bangladesh national team and represent the country at the international Mas-Wrestling competitions to be held in Kazan, Russia, from 26 to 30 November 2026.

The championship marked another important step in expanding ethnosports in Bangladesh and strengthening people-to-people connections through sport. The organizers reaffirmed their commitment to developing the movement through school programmes, training camps, national championships and international cooperation.