Bank RBK Backs World Wrestling Championships Set to Draw Record 135 Nations

Astana will host the World Wrestling Championships from October 24 to November 1, bringing together the world’s top athletes in Greco-Roman, freestyle and women’s wrestling. Bank RBK will serve as a partner of the event, which is set to make history: representatives from 135 countries have submitted entries, marking a record for the number of nations represented at a senior World Wrestling Championships.

The tournament will bring the world’s wrestling elite to Kazakhstan, giving local fans a rare opportunity to watch top-level international competition on home soil. For Astana, it will be an opportunity to host one of the major events on the international sporting calendar.

«Hosting a World Championships of this magnitude is a great honour and a source of pride for Kazakhstan. With the world’s best wrestlers arriving from 135 countries, Kazakhstan will find itself at the centre of a major global sporting event, showcasing its proud traditions and tremendous potential. For Bank RBK, being part of an event that brings nations together, inspires young athletes and reinforces the belief that the greatest victories begin at home is especially meaningful», said Natalya Akentyeva, Chairwoman of the Management Board of Bank RBK.

A World-Class Event by the Numbers

The upcoming championships have already broken previous records for international participation. The previous high was set in Istanbul in 2011, when 102 countries were represented.

According to preliminary estimates from the organisers, around 1,000 wrestlers are expected to compete for medals across 30 weight categories over nine days. A total of 2,231 people have registered for the event, including athletes, coaches, national federation officials and other delegation members. The championships are also expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors to Kazakhstan.

Ahead of the competition, Astana will host the United World Wrestling Congress on October 23, bringing together representatives of the international wrestling community.

A Chance to Watch the World’s Best Compete at Home

More than 51,000 children and teenagers train in wrestling at sports schools across Kazakhstan. For these aspiring athletes, the World Championships will offer a chance to see the sport’s biggest stars in action, cheer on their national team and experience the excitement of competition at the highest level.

«Hosting the World Championships in Astana is a major occasion for Kazakhstan’s entire wrestling community. Over nine days, spectators will witness world-class competition, while our athletes will have the opportunity to compete for medals in front of a home crowd. It is particularly significant that a tournament of this calibre is taking place in a country with such a strong wrestling tradition, where the sport brings together tens of thousands of children and young people. We are grateful to Bank RBK for its partnership and support, which are helping to make the championships more accessible to fans and inspire a new generation to take up the sport», said Yerkin Okasov, President of the Kazakhstan Wrestling Federation.

License No. 1.1.821.135 dated July 15, 2026, issued by the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market.