2nd Ova Wrestling Festival held with enthusiasm in Kırköy
The 2nd Ova Wrestling Festival was held with great excitement and wide participation in Kırköy, İskeçe, organized with the support of the Ova Culture, Solidarity, and Brotherhood Association and the Kırköy Football Team. The festival brought together wrestlers and spectators from both Greece and Turkiye.
The event took place on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at the Kırköy Football Stadium. Wrestlers from İskeçe, Rodop, Serres, and Turkiye participated. Distinguished guests from Turkiye included İpsala District Governor Ömer Sevgili, İpsala Mayor Mehmet Kerman, and famous oil wrestling champions Recep Kara, Serhat Balcı, Abdullah Güngör, and Salih Erinç.
Official opening and speeches
Guests were welcomed with traditional drums and zurna music. Opening remarks were made by Ömer Muzafferoğlu, President of the Ova Brotherhood Association. Other speakers included Kerem Abdurahimoğlu, President of the İskeçe Turkish Union; MPs Hüseyin Zeybek, Burhan Baran, and Özgür Ferhat; DEB Party President Çiğdem Asafoğlu; Mustafa Trampa, Head of the Advisory Board of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority and İskeçe Mufti; and Turkiye’s Consul General in Gümülcine, Aykut Ünal.
Folk dances and fierce wrestling matches
The festival program included plaque presentations to contributing organizations, followed by performances from the Gümülcine Turkish Youth Union and İskeçe Turkish Union folk dance groups, which received great applause.
Wrestling competitions were held in multiple categories, from juniors to champions, with over 30 wrestlers competing fiercely. In the Champion category, Turkiye’s Recep Kara took first place, while in the Sub-Champion category, Niyazi İbiş from Gümülcine won the title.
A celebration of local culture and sport
The 2nd Ova Wrestling Festival in Kırköy was more than just a sporting event—it became a gathering point for cultural solidarity and brotherhood among the local community. Organizers expect the festival to become a traditional annual event in the coming years.
