Manavgat Kicks Off 13th Oil Wrestling Festival

The historic tradition of Turkish oil wrestling, or 'yağlı güreş,' is alive and well in Manavgat, Antalya, as the 13th Manavgat Oil Wrestling Festival commenced at the Ilıca Er Meydanı (arena). This prestigious event, serving as the second stage of the CW Energy Turkish Oil Wrestling League, has drawn an impressive contingent of nearly 2,000 'pehlivans' (wrestlers) from across Turkey.

Manavgat Belediye Başkan Vekili (Deputy Mayor) Av. Mehmet Çiçek emphasized the growing significance of Manavgat as a hub for this ancient sport, noting that the festival has grown larger each year. This year's competition features a wide array of talent, with 70 chief wrestlers ('başpehlivan') competing among the thousands of participants across various weight classes, from the youngest 'minik' category to the elite 'başpehlivan' division.

The festival, hosted by the Manavgat Municipality, will span three days, culminating in the highly anticipated chief wrestler finals on Sunday, May 10th, followed by an awards ceremony. To ensure broad public participation and enjoyment, the municipality is providing free shuttle services from Atatürk Kültür Merkezi to the wrestling grounds, underscoring the community's commitment to celebrating and preserving this cherished cultural heritage.

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Bugün Ilıca Er Meydanı’nda 13. Manavgat Yağlı Pehlivan Güreşlerimizi başlatmanın gururunu yaşıyoruz. Organizasyonumuzda 70 başpehlivanımız er meydanına çıkacak, toplamda ise 2 bine yakın güreşçimiz mücadele edecek. Bu yıl güreşlerimizi CW Enerji Türkiye Yağlı Güreş Ligi’nin ikinci etabı olarak gerçekleştiriyoruz.