Kurash course! New athletes, fans take to ancient martial art at Asian Games

China's Yu Dan celebrates after beating Iran's Donya Aghaei in the women's 70 kg finals kurash event during the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, in China's eastern Zhejiang province on October 1, 2023.- AFP

HANGZHOU, China (AFP): Once a fixture of traditional wedding ceremonies and a pastime of ancient warriors, centuries old martial art of Kurash is winning new fans and attracting first-time competitors at the Asian Games in China.

Spectator Li Jingxiu told AFP he "knew nothing at all about the sport" before showing up to Sunday's competition.