Two members of Oxford Judo have just returned from Uzbekistan after taking part in the Kurash World Championships as part of the Great Britain team. Kurash is a Uzbek wrestling similar to judo.
Matt Edmans won the adulation of the crowd in is first contest at the under 81 kg category, as he threw his Indian opponent all around the mat in a spectacular contest ending in the equivalent of ippon. Matt got as far as the quarter finals, only losing out to an unorthodox Georgian in a close contest for bronze. This meant Matt had the best
result of anyone on the British team at the championships.
Henry fought like a lion, but in a cruel twist of fate, ended up drawing the Uzbek in the first round. The Uzbek’s greater experience
of the sport of kurash proved Henry’s downfall, however, he wasn’t downhearted by the experience.
Both Oxford fighters acquitted themselves well on the highest stage, and return home feeling confident in the strength of their judo.