Iraqi Alpagut athlete Sajad Abdul Ameer, known as “Sajad Al-Khuffash,” trains with a teammate during a sparring session in Dhi Qar governorate.
Iraqi athlete wins gold at Asian Alpagut Championship in Kazakhstan
DHI QAR — Iraqi national team athlete Sajad Abdul Ameer, known as “Sajad Al-Khuffash,” won gold at the 1st Asian Championship in Alpagut Martial Arts held July 3–6 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, where more than 300 athletes from 13 countries competed.
Organized by the World Alpagut Federation and the Kazakhstan Alpagut Federation, the tournament featured competitors of all ages across four Alpagut systems — Ayça, Batur, Caymaz and Gurşaq — combining elements of kickboxing, boxing, karate, wrestling and taekwondo with Turkic cultural traditions. Kazakhstan’s team placed first overall, followed by Iraq and Azerbaijan.
“I started practicing Alpagut in 2019 with Captain Mushtaq, the founder of the sport and president of the international federation,” Abdul Ameer told 964media. “I participated with the national team in the Asian Championship in Kazakhstan and managed to win the gold medal.”
He said training camps in Duhok, Sulaymaniyah and Iran helped prepare the Iraqi team. “We faced difficult circumstances, but I put them behind me and focused on the championship. The toughest fight was against the Kazakh team, but I managed to win and raise the Iraqi flag,” he said.
Looking ahead, Abdul Ameer said the team is preparing for the World Championship in the Netherlands. “Our goal is to win first place,” he said.
Mohammed Al-Houkal, president of Al-Furat Sports Club, praised the achievement. “Today we celebrate one of Al-Furat Sports Club’s champions, Captain Sajad Abdul Ameer, nicknamed ‘Sajad Al-Khuffash,’” he said. “His beginning was in karate, from which he moved to Alpagut and achieved many championships, including one in India. This achievement is special because it is the first at the Asian level, and we hope his preparations for the World Championship bring home another gold.”