Russian mixed martial arts fighter disproves accusations of nationalism
Aleksander Emelianenko, three-time world Sambo champion, visited Ingushetia at the beginning of August, where he encouraged young people to take up sports and advocated a healthy life-style. Mr Emelianenko, who will sponsor free sports schools and organize federal competitions in the region, assisted some youth martial arts classes and said that he liked the attitude of the young sportsmen.
Emelianenko also paid a visit to the youth summer camp ‘Erzi’ and to a sports-center in Nazran. Accompanied by Olympic boxing champions of Ingush origin, Rakhim Chakkhiyev and Islam Timurziev, he demonstrated several of his famous holds. Emelianenko cited the example of Idris Tatiev, the young Ingush, Russian and World Greco-Roman wrestling champion.
After that, Aleksander Emelianenko toured a newly-opened boxing facility and mentioned that modern conditions of training were far better than in the 1990s, when he and his friends had to train in small unequipped basements with leaky pipes.
Aleksander Emelianenko was recently accused of having connections with nationalist groups, so his visit to Ingushetia was intended as a graphic repudiation of this accusation. The sportsman pointed out that he is training together with Muslim teammates and considers them his personal friends. He also enjoys efficient cooperation with the founder of the Professional League of mixed martial arts, Mahomet Dersigov, who is also the ambassador plenipotentiary of the Ingush President in the Rostov Oblast. Moreover, Emelianenko and his brother sponsored construction of a mosque in Saint-Petersburg.
Emelianenko promised to go to Ingushetia again, when he manages to find a gap in his schedule.
Pavel Tsoroev, Nazran, exclusively to VK
