The latest edition of the international Kurash tournament for the prize of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has taken place in Paris. Hundreds of fans attended the martial arts tournament. Hosting competitions in Europe is important for a sport that is on the rise worldwide. At the opening ceremony, representatives of the French Kurash Federation emphasised the human values of the sport and its role in improving physical and mental health. The sport is expected to become an Olympic discipline one day. The founder of modern Kurash Komil Yusupov praised the French organisers.

“This year we have already organised 4 international tournaments on the European continent,” Komil Yusupov, founder of modern Kurash and the International Kurash Association, tells us. “The main goal of such tournaments is to strengthen cooperation, publicise and develop Kurash. We would also like this sport to be included in the European Games programme, this is one of our top priorities at the moment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the host country for the warm welcome. “

2022-yilning 24-iyul kuni Parij shahrining markazida Kurash bo’yicha O’zbekiston Prezidenti sovrini uchun xalqaro turnir bo’lib o’tdi.
Le tournoi international de Kurash pour le prix du président de l’Ouzbékistan s’est tenu au cœur de Paris le 24 juillet 2022. pic.twitter.com/DCFZVneQTm

– Ambassade d’Ouzbekistan en France (@ouzbekistanamb1) July 25, 2022

Kurash – national martial art in Uzbekistan

Kurash translates as “achieving a goal in an honest way”, it is a Turkish martial art with a waist belt. It is more than 3500 years old and is supported by UNESCO. The philosopher and historian Herodotus describes Kurash and other Uzbek customs and traditions in detail in his book “History”.

60 athletes from 30 countries competed for medals

About 60 athletes from 30 different countries took part in the event, and the open weight class fulfilled expectations.

Three athletes stood out in the fights on the Gilam mat, making the Parisian audience cheer with spectacular moves: Muhammadkarim Khurramov from Uzbekistan, Zakro Culum from Serbia and Danov Bobon from Macedonia. Khurramov and Culum contested the final. Despite the Serb’s weight advantage, Khurramov managed to earn a late chala (the equivalent of a judo waza-ari) to take the win.

In the women’s event, Jasmin Grabowski put in a great performance to take the win. The German athlete was unstoppable throughout the competition and dominated her Polish and French competitors in the last four rounds. It was Grabowski’s debut in this discipline to remember as she triumphed with a halal (the equivalent of an ippon in judo) in her weight class.

Every athlete was rewarded

The winners received 5000 euros, the runners-up 3000 euros and the third-placed 2000 euros. The athletes who missed out on a place on the podium also received prize money – an incentive to do even better at the next Kurash event.