The first version of these Championships was held in Istanbul back in 1968, but the sport fell out of favour at university level for almost 20 years until Iran held a second Championship in Tehran in 1996.

It was a huge success, with 171 wrestlers competing from 18 countries, among whom were champions such as Serguey Liehtrvan and Alexander Zanko from Belarus.

In 1998 Turkey organised the third edition, echoing the first one that it had organised 30 years earlier, and the Championships have been held biennially ever since.

The last World University Wrestling Championships, held at Corum in Turkey, involved 24 countries and 207 wrestlers, 50 of whom were women.

Among the wrestlers taking part in the competition, which runs from tomorrow to Sunday (September 9), are a team of six from the Montreal Wrestling Club in Canada, including Jade Du Four and Alex Moore.