International Kurash Tournament: Under the Eiffel Tower, an ancient sport takes centre stage
For three days, the centre of Paris turned into a celebration of an ancient Central Asian tradition as more than a hundred athletes from 25 countries stepped onto the gilam for the International Kurash Tournament for the Prize of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
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00:00For three days, the heart of Paris turned into a celebration of an ancient Central Asian tradition.
00:08More than a hundred athletes from 25 countries stepped onto the Gilam, the traditional wrestling mat,
00:15for the International Courage Tournament, for the prize of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
00:22The opening ceremony began with athletes parading under their national flags at the anthem of Uzbekistan played across the square.
00:31I think the dream is to go to the Olympics. It's not just a dream for us but for all the other sports who are not in the Olympics
00:41because this is the best thing. One day we were dreaming to be in the Asian Games.
00:46So we achieved that. Now we are dreaming for the European Games and we are hoping that our final aim will be the Olympics.
00:55Courage now has got a good international reputation. It's been in a number of continental games as well.
01:04So it's on that pathway. So yeah, I'm pretty confident that one day it will reach the Olympic Arena.
01:10This tournament unfolded not in a hidden gymnasium, but in the open air, right beneath one of the world's most famous landmarks.
01:18For those who gathered – athletes, diplomats, sports leaders and curious Parisians – it was instantly clear – this was about modern medals.
01:28As the evening progressed, the crowd around the Met grew thicker, bathed in the glow of the Eiffel Tower's lights.
01:36For many, it was their first time seeing Courage.
01:39I think it's a marriage that symbolizes quite well the relationship between France and the Uzbekistan
01:46which has been developed for several years and has, I think, a beautiful perspective.
01:50In any case, I hope.
01:51And then the Uzbekistan, it's a particularity. It's a country that is at the heart of the intersection between the Orient and the Occident.
02:00And when you visit Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent and other regions of Uzbekistan, you feel the historical heritage,
02:07civilisation of this country, which has rayoned on the whole Central Asia and who, today,
02:13wants to draw relationships with France.
02:17Four weight categories – men's minus 90 kg and plus 90 kg, women's minus 70 kg and plus 70 kg – each brought its own stories.
02:30France fielded four athletes in every class, ready to challenge Uzbekistan's champions.
02:36In the heavyweight division, Shirali Juraev from Uzbekistan battled Dutch contender and saw Ferdinand in a semi-final decided in the last seconds.
02:46Today, we have the precipting and the key for theasti-tournish tournament,
02:51which is important in the world.
02:54Nowadays, we will track ourours of Ferdinand and the Olympic sport,
02:57the Olympic sport to express the Olympic football team as well.
03:01Today, we have a first time in France.
03:05In the next few weeks, we are the best to ensure that we are at the front of the military,
03:11and we will have all the president and the President to take here.
03:15Even after the final whistle, the atmosphere lingered.
03:27The note of Uzbek music from the opening night still drifted through the air.
03:32As athletes and fans exchanged thoughts on shows, techniques and the unexpected grace
03:37of a sport many were seeing for the first time, Courage built a bridge between cultures
03:42and for many watching, it felt like just the beginning.
