An athlete attempting to flip his opponent. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
MALAYSIA hosted the Kurash Southeast Asia (Kusea) Championships 2024, the first country to do so in the region.
A total of 150 participants from six countries – Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia – vied for medals in the wrestling sport that originated from Central Asia.
There were four competition categories – Seniors, Youth, Children (seven to 12 years) and Kids (six to eight years) – in the championship held at a shopping centre in Kajang, Selangor.
Bouts saw wrestlers in green and blue jackets attempting to throw the other to the ground.
Fighters locked in a grapple.
A player who throws his opponent on his back wins the match.
Points are also awarded for throwing opponents on their sides or stomachs.
The sport has three ways to score points: chala for a controlled fall on the front or side, yonbosh for a half-score throw onto the back and kolo for a full back landing.
Malaysia Kurash Association president Chew Eng Kian recounted his journey in promoting the sport in Malaysia.
“In 2019 when I became president, we didn’t have many resources.
“Then the Covid-19 pandemic happened but we persevered.
Four of the winners at the Kurash South-East Asia Championship in Kajang.
“The Youth and Sports Ministry issued a letter of support and this was crucial in us organising the first-ever Kurash Championship in Malaysia,” said Chew.
Singapore’s Aaron Ng, who won gold in the Senior 90kg weight category, said: “I have practised judo for the longest time and have joined many competitions prior to this.
“Judo and kurash are similar, so I joined the kurash competition because I wanted bigger exposure and more opportunities,” he added.
Ng encouraged others to get involved in the sport.
