QAZHYMUQAN MUNAITPASULY

     This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the famous Kazakh wrestler Hadzhimukan Munaitpasuly.

           Born in the beginning of April 1871 (1886) in the Karaotkel village of Akmola region.

In 1904, on the recommendation of the famous Russian circus wrestler A. N. Zlobin, the very young Muqan Munaitpasuly was admitted to the school of I. V. Lebedev in St. Petersburg, where he studied the circus art of classical wrestling from 1905 to 1907. Then he began performing in the circus troupe of the professional world champion wrestler Georg Lurich. Under the pseudonyms Yamagata Mukhanura, then - Kara-Mustafa, Mahmut and so on, he participates in various international competitions in French and freestyle wrestling. A short time later, Munaitpasuly becomes the winner and prize-winner of all-Russian tournaments in Saratov, Kazan, Omsk, Troitsk, Ufa and other cities, as well as international championships in Moscow, Kiev, Riga, Minsk, Paris, Warsaw, Harbin. As part of a circus troupe, he toured the countries of South America, the Near and Middle East. In 1909-1911, he successfully fought against the strongest Turkish wrestlers. The trip turned out to be fateful for the athlete, as the recognition of his strength and talent during this tour in his name appeared the prefix "Qazhy" ("Khaji") - who made a pilgrimage to holy places. The conquest of wrestling Turkey alone by Mukan was perceived by his Russian co-religionists that way.

     In 1909, Qazhymuqan won a gold medal at the World Championship in French wrestling in Gothenburg (Sweden). He also became the strongest at the World Championship in Warsaw (1911). After a while, Munaitpasuly becomes the winner and prize-winner of tournaments in Saratov, Kazan, Omsk, Troitsk, Ufa and other cities, as well as international championships in Moscow, Kiev, Riga, Minsk, Paris, Warsaw, Harbin. In 1913, in Troitsk, Munaitpasuly defeated 18 wrestlers from different countries. Under the name Kara Ivan Munaitpasuly defended the sporting honor of Russia in Kabul, Tehran, Harbin and other cities. In 1927, Central Executive Committee Kazakh Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic awarded Qazhymuqan the honorary title "Hero of the Kazakh steppes". In total, during the years of his performance he won 48 gold, silver, bronze medals, the famous "Sigismund's belt" (1913-1915).

       In 1929-1931. The hero of the Kazakh steppes performed successfully in Petropavlovsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk, in Altai. History has become the fact that Qazhymuqan, with his authority, contributed to the release of relatives who were dispossessed and were deported in the Omsk region. The tragedy of the 30s - the famine - deeply saddened Qazhymuqan, who did his best to help his fellow countrymen out of trouble. The Kazakh batyr also deserved the love of the entire Soviet people with his civil act in wartime. During the World War II, Qazhymuqan performed with circus performances among the population, and transferred the proceeds to the Defense Fund. With these funds, a whole fighter plane was eventually built. Qazhymuqan was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.

       He died in 1948 in the village. Temirlanovka of the Aryss district of the South Kazakhstan region. In 1980, a memorial museum of Qazhymuqan Munaitpasuly was opened in the South Kazakhstan region. Since 1986, international tournaments in classical wrestling have been held for the prize after Qazhymuqan Munaitpasuly.