DUSHANBE, July 8, 2013, Asia-Plus -- To-date, Tajik athletes have won two medals at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia.

According to Tajikistan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), Tajik athletes won the medals in belt wrestling on July 7.

Tajik athlete Abduazim Boynazarov won the gold medal, finishing first in the men’s belt wrestling in the 68 kg weight category.

Mahmad Mirov grabbed the silver medal for Tajikistan, finishing second in the men’s belt wrestling  in the 62 kg weight category.

Belt Wrestling is a form of wrestling that is one of the oldest historically recorded sports.  It involves contestants aiming to knock each other over by grappling with a belt.

In all, 45 Tajik athletes are competing in nine sports at the 2013 Summer Universiade that kicked off on July 6 and will last till July 17, and official source at the NOC said.

The 2013 Summer Universiade, officially known as the XXVII Summer Universiade, is being held from July 6 to 17 in the city of Kazan, Russia, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.  It is reportedly the second largest sport participation event in the world.  More than 13,500 University athletes from over 170 countries are participating in 13 mandatory and 14 optional sports, making the Universiade the biggest ever in the history of the event. The Universiade is organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), based in Lausanne, Switzerland.  351 sets of medals will be distributed in the two weeks of the competition.