“The Greek Kurash Federation, headed by member of the IKA Executive Committee, chairman of the European Kurash Confederation Merabi Iliadis, has directed a lot of his efforts to the promotion of our sport,” noted Habibulla Tajiyev, chairman of the World Fund for the Development of Kurash. “And in Thessaloniki, it is so popular that at the opening ceremony on the magnificent scene of the Evazmoz Central Stadium the prime minister of Northern Macedonia Panaetis Psoliadis said: “January 30 is marked in red on my desktop calendar: it is a must for me to be present at the tournament of Islam Karimov – it is both my personal attitude to kurash, and a tribute to Uzbekistan and its president.”

The event was also attended by mayor of the administrative district Kordeolio-Evazmu (Thessaloniki is administratively divided into 13 districts, and the elected mayor of each is a very significant figure that is not subordinate to any of governors or the city mayor) Estatios Lafazanidis, and the General Consul of Uzbekistan to Greece Tohir Mamajanov, as well as diplomats from Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine...

This year the tournament was much more massive and colorful, due to the fact that the competition of male kurashists was supplemented with women’s and youth tournaments. While there were 97 participants among adults, more 150 boys and girls born in 1995-1996 gathered for the youth tournament. And this is especially pleasing because it clearly shows: the generation of kurash wrestlers is in growing the world.

The enthusiasm of organizers of Islam Karimov’s tournament is actively supported by national federations of many European countries that try not to miss this exciting and prestigious event. This year, kurash wrestlers from Austria, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine gathered in the Thessaloniki. In addition, as tradition goes a group of Uzbek athletes also arrived.

Uzbek athletes, along with the hosts of the tournament set the tone, evenly dividing the first places in adult competitions. However the podium welcomed representatives of five other states as well. Three times - Georgia, twice – Bulgaria, as well as Armenia, Macedonia and Ukraine.

Men traditionally competed in three weight categories. In the lightest weight - up to 73 kg (Uzbek athletes did not compete here) Aris Kotanidis from Greece won the final fight against Vahan Govanesyan of Armenia. In the weight class up to 90kg the final match was between fellow countrymen Sherali Jurayev and Zafar Buriyev. The latter has less titles and is lighter (last fall at the Grand Prix of the President of Uzbekistan in Bordeaux, France, he competed in weight up to 81 kg), but he fiercely resisted the two-time world champion. But Jurayev was stronger.

Absolute category in any wrestling tournament is considered the most prestigious and collects the largest number of participants. And the winner of this category gets quite a solid prize. Greek champion Vasileios Iliadis has repeatedly tried to win the title. In 2008 he fought in the final his cousin Dionysis, but lost. But now for the first time he was able to snatch victory from the three-time world champion (though much lighter opponent) Davlat Choriyev of Surkhandaryo. The latter, incidentally, left no chances for Dionysios Iliadis to reach the podium...

Female kurash wrestlers, debutants of the tournament, competed in only one weight category up to 63kg. Ugil Nuraliyeva of Qashqadaryo was stronger than all her opponents, in January she was named Uzbekistan’s best female kurash wrestler of 2010. Last year, this pretty girl from Kasan won a gold medal at the international tournament of Islam Karimov in England. And in Thessaloniki proved that winning the competition, baring the name of the president of Uzbekistan, is fundamental for her. In the final match Bulgarian Marina Vilcheva could do nothing against Ugil. And the first winners of bronze medals in Greece were Katerina Nikolaska of Macedonia and Yelena Ryzak of Ukraine.