by Paul Sawyer
A three-strong British Kurash team, comprising Fiona Chan, Natasha Glassford and Danielle Batt and accompanied by coach Paul Sawyer, achieved outstanding success at the 2025 European Championships in Batumi, Georgia winning no less than one gold and two silver medals.
For those unfamiliar with Kurash, it is the national sport of Uzbekistan, a style of jacket wrestling bearing many similarities to Judo. The aim of Kurash is to throw the opponent cleanly onto their back from a grip on their jacket or belt. Currently over 100 countries worldwide are members of the International Kurash Association.
Twenty three nations sent teams to this prestigious event with host country Georgia, Turkey, Greece and Moldova expected to pick up the lion’s share of the medals. Although Kurash in Europe is not yet as strong as in Asia where it is now included as part of the Asian Games, the presence at the event of Uzbekistan’s Minister of Sport, Dr Adkham Ikramov, and his Georgian counterpart, Mr Shalva Gogoladze, gave further credence to its ascendancy in our part of the world.
Danielle Batt European Champion!
All three British women, seasoned competitors on the international Judo circuit, performed outstandingly to reach their respective finals, producing a series of spectacular throws and quick victories en route.
Danielle Batt from Staines, competing in the under 87 kilo category, was determined to improve on her result from last year’s European Championships in Turkey where she was narrowly beaten in the final. Danielle, whose Judo CV includes World and European Veterans titles, made a positive start to her final against Serbest of Turkey, putting her opponent under pressure from some strong shoulder throw attempts before making a scoring breakthrough just before the halfway point of the bout. Danielle continued to keep the pressure up on Serbest in the remaining time to run out a deserving points winner in a well contested match thus becoming the UK’s first ever European Kurash champion.
“I’m absolutely delighted to win the European title” exclaimed the newly-crowned champion, “to improve on last year’s result is very encouraging and I’m really excited to have the opportunity to challenge the best in the world at the IKA Grand Prix events this year.”
Two more silver medals
Fiona Chan, from Bordon in Hampshire, was making her international Kurash debut following some outstanding successes in Veterans Judo including a European title and World silver medal in 2024. Her under 57 kilo semi-final against the Moldovan Gheorghita proved to be one of the quickest contests of the day as Fiona produced a lightning fast throw to deposit her younger opponent cleanly on to her back for the required khalol score – the equivalent of an ippon in Judo or a knockout in boxing.
The final was quick too but unfortunately not going Fiona’s way this time. Oguz of Turkey turned under Fiona with a superbly timed dropping cross grip shoulder throw to land her cleanly on her back and clinch the gold medal.
“I was very pleased to make the final although a little disappointed to have lost in the early part of the contest. However, I was caught by an excellent technique so no complaints!” said Fiona.
Wimbledon’s Natasha Glassford, a three times World Veterans Judo champion and also making her Kurash debut, lined up in a very competitive under 63 kilo category. Natasha advanced to the final in impressive style defeating her two Moldovan opponents, Stratan and Ciochina, in successive rounds in well under a minute each.
Unfortunately, the final proved to be a different matter as her French opponent, Clara Galludec, who had also looked very impressive in the earlier rounds, continued her outstanding form producing the required khalol score in the opening seconds thereby cementing her place, in this writer’s opinion, as the outstanding female competitor of the day.
Natasha said, “I’m really pleased to have made the rostrum at my first Kurash tournament and can’t wait to get back on the mat in some Grand Prix events later in the year. This was a very well organised tournament with some good competitors.”
Increasing UK Influence in European Kurash
At the opening day’s European Kurash Confederation Congress, the UK’s Paul Sawyer was nominated and duly elected for a place on the EKC Executive Committee. Paul, currently Chair of the IKA’s Athletes Committee, said, “I’m very honoured to accept this role. I look forward to working together with my European colleagues to help raise the profile of Kurash across the continent and provide further opportunities for athletes and sports fans to experience this amazing Uzbek sport.”
British Kurash Association Chairman, Stephen Sweetlove MBE, was very happy with the results, “On behalf of the British Kurash Association, I am delighted that the team has achieved such a high level of success at the European Championships, both on the mat and within the continental organisation, and that we have our first European Champion in Danielle Batt. I’m sure we will continue to go from strength-to-strength.”
Future developments
Negotiations are underway with the Uzbekistan Kurash Federation to hold a Grand Prix level international tournament in the UK, possibly in the autumn of 2025. Following their outstanding performances in Batumi, Danielle, Fiona and Natasha are now in line for invitations to more prestige tournaments this year. Exciting times ahead for British Kurash!
Interested in Kurash?
Anyone interested in Kurash either as an athlete, official, spectator or a potential sponsor should please contact Paul Sawyer, General Secretary, British Kurash Association: pg_sawyer@hotmail.com
In and around Batumi
With the Congress and senior categories focussed on the first two days of the three-day tournament, the British contingent was able to take advantage of their free day to tour Batumi and the surrounding area.
Batumi, Georgia’s second largest city is situated on the Black Sea about 12 miles from the Turkish border. It is a major seaside resort offering a proliferation of quality hotels along its extensive seafront making it a very popular holiday destination. Further inland, the Adjara region boasts some spectacular scenery including snow-capped mountains, waterfalls and picturesque mountain villages where the friendly inhabitants make visitors very welcome.
Paul said, “We arrived at Tbilisi Airport at 5.30am local time having flown overnight from Heathrow and, having had very little sleep, were prepared to snooze through most of the 5-hour car journey to Batumi. However, the journey to the coast was amazing as we navigated our way through mountains, valleys and villages and took in the most spectacular scenery. We didn’t sleep for a moment in case we missed something!”
Fiona added, “I loved ziplining down the mountain! The zig-zag drive up the steep and winding road just to get to the start was almost as exciting too!”
“Some breathtaking scenery, particularly in the mountains with its snow and waterfalls. Such a contrast to my home in London. The people were so friendly too. I’d recommend anyone to visit Georgia!” stated Natasha.
“The traditional Georgian food was amazing; I can’t wait to go back!” said Danielle.
