Uzbekistan Home - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 855

Chess

Uzbekistan’s Sindarov Beats American Nakamura, Stays in Lead at FIDE Candidates

Playing with the black pieces, Javokhir Sindarov defeated Hikaru Nakamura at the FIDE Candidates Tournament on Friday and maintained his lead at the elite chess event underway on the shores of the Mediterranean. The 20-year-old Uzbekistani grandmaster has won four games after five rounds at the tournament near Paphos, Cyprus, in what some commentators have described as the best start seen at the tournament in many years. Sindarov now has 4.5 points, one point ahead of Fabiano Caruana in second place. The winner of the eight-player, 14-round tournament will challenge the current world champion, India’s Gukesh Dommaraju, later this year. Sindarov’s win over Nakamura of the United States came after he defeated Caruana, who is also American, on Wednesday. Nakamura spent about one hour considering one move, and Caruana had also got into time trouble against Sindarov. “Interesting opening choice from Sindarov,” American grandmaster Hans Niemann, who is not playing in the candidates tournament, tweeted during the Sindarov-Nakamura game. “Slight surprise and betting that Hikaru won't have a dangerous counter-surprise prepared. If Sindarov remembers the line, it seems like it will end in a perpetual. Sindarov continues to impress.” In chess, a perpetual is a situation where one player can endlessly check the other player’s king, leading to a draw. Sindarov, however, turned expectations of a perpetual into a victory. Sindarov won the 2025 World Cup in Goa, India, but his wins over Nakamura, ranked second in the world, and third-ranked Caruana indicate that the Uzbekistani is a consistent contender at the very top of men’s chess. After defeating Nakamura, he signed autographs for children at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, where the candidates tournament is being held. While Sindarov is ranked just outside the top ten in classical chess, his performance in Cyprus is expected to boost his ranking. Another player from Uzbekistan, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, has moved up to fourth place in the classical ratings list. Abdusattorov is currently playing in the Freestyle Chess Open in Karlsruhe, Germany. Top-ranked Magnus Carlsen is also playing there.

Organization of Turkic States

Meeting of the Organization of Turkic States Held in Baku

On April 2, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with participants of a meeting of the heads of government of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Baku, outlining key areas of cooperation. Among those attending were Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Nokerguly Atagulyev, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Unal Ustel, and OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev. Opening the meeting, Aliyev stressed the importance of dialogue. “This meeting of the heads of government of the Organization of Turkic States is being held in Baku. I warmly welcome you all,” he said. According to Aliyev, such meetings allow not only for the discussion of economic issues but also for reaffirming unity among member states. He noted that cooperation within the organization remains a priority of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. He also reiterated a key message that ran throughout his speech: “We have repeatedly stated from various platforms that the Turkic world is our family; we have no other family,” Aliyev said. Special attention was devoted to economic cooperation. According to the president, trade between member states is growing, and investment volumes are increasing. He noted that Azerbaijan has invested more than $20 billion in the economies of OTS member states. Most of this has been directed to Turkey, though investment activity is expanding elsewhere. In particular, joint funds have been established with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan to support project implementation. Aliyev also thanked partners for their participation in the reconstruction of Karabakh. Facilities built with the support of OTS countries are already operational in the region, including the Mirza Ulugbek School, the Kurmangazy Children’s Creative Center, and the Manas School. In addition, a garment factory has been opened in Khankendi with the participation of Uzbekistan. He also highlighted mutual support among member states. Following the earthquake in Turkey, Azerbaijan financed the construction of the “Azerbaijani Quarter” in Kahramanmaraş, valued at $100 million. Transport and logistics projects were another key topic. According to the president, infrastructure development remains a top priority. These include the Middle Corridor, the Trans-Caspian route, and the Zangezur Corridor, all of which are gaining importance in the current geopolitical environment. Aliyev said that infrastructure within Azerbaijan is largely complete. Railways, the Baku port, highways, and airports are operational. Construction of the Zangezur Corridor is also progressing, with the highway nearly 90% complete and the railway approximately 70% complete. He also noted the construction of the Kars-Nakhchivan railway line in Turkey, which is expected to enable a new international route with an initial capacity of about 15 million tons of cargo. In conclusion, Aliyev said these projects are aimed not only at serving regional interests but also at expanding international transport connectivity. He expressed confidence that the meeting would contribute to the further development of the OTS and strengthen cooperation among member states.

Sports

Khusanov Named Manchester City’s Player of the Month for March

Uzbekistan national team defender Abdukodir Khusanov has been named Manchester City’s Player of the Month for March, the club announced. In a statement, Manchester City said the 21-year-old “beat the challenges of team-mates Rodri and Jérémy Doku to overwhelmingly win the public vote,” highlighting his strong performances throughout the month. “Khusanov was outstanding during March and has become a firm favourite with the City fans for his committed, all-action defensive style,” the club added. This marks Khusanov’s third monthly award, after also receiving the honor in January. Last year, he made history by being named the club’s Etihad Player of the Month for February, just six weeks after joining. At the time, the club praised his composure and tactical discipline, particularly his decision-making under pressure across multiple appearances. Khusanov’s rapid rise has been one of the standout stories in Uzbek football in recent years. Earlier, he was named Asia’s Best Young Footballer of 2025 by Goalpost, reflecting his growing reputation on the international stage. The defender made history in January as the first player from Uzbekistan to play in the English Premier League. Since then, he has gradually secured more playing time, making several appearances for one of Europe’s top clubs this season. His performances have also drawn wider recognition. Analysts from The Athletic recently included Khusanov in a list of the world’s most underrated footballers, noting that while his debut against Chelsea was difficult, he has since shown clear improvement and strong defensive qualities.

Air Quality

Air Quality Report Shows Central Asia’s Air Getting Rapidly Worse

Tajikistan ranked as the world’s third most polluted country in 2025, according to the latest World Air Quality Report by IQAir. The report analyzed PM2.5 concentrations across 9,446 cities in 143 countries and territories. PM2.5, fine particulate matter measured in micrograms per cubic meter, is widely used as a key indicator of air pollution. The five most polluted countries in 2025 were Pakistan (67.3 µg/m³), Bangladesh (66.1 µg/m³), Tajikistan (57.3 µg/m³), Chad (53.6 µg/m³), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (50.2 µg/m³). Only 13 countries and territories met the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³, including Australia, Iceland, and Estonia. Overall, 130 out of 143 countries exceeded the guideline. Kazakhstan records the cleanest air in Central Asia, but still had the 29th worst air globally in 2025, a very significant decline from 71st in 2024. Uzbekistan has the region's dirtiest air, and the 10th worst worldwide, while Kyrgyzstan is only slightly better, in 19th. Like Kazakhstan, both countries have fallen down the rankings since they were last put together in 2024. Kyrgyzstan had been in 41st place, while Uzbekistan has fallen from 19th. Turkmenistan, which was also among the 30 most polluted countries in 2024, was not included in the 2025 report due to a lack of available data. Karaganda in Kazakhstan is Central Asia's most polluted city, ranking 26th globally in 2025. The city recorded an annual PM2.5 level of 72.6 µg/m³, more than ten times the WHO guideline. Other heavily polluted cities in the region included Fergana (30th, 68.8 µg/m³), Dushanbe (51st, 57.3 µg/m³), Guliston (100th), and Tashkent (225th, 39 µg/m³). The report also noted that the world’s 25 most polluted cities in 2025 were all located in India, Pakistan, and China, with India accounting for three of the top four.

Aviation

Uzbekistan Becomes Top International Destination for Russian Airlines

Uzbekistan has become the leading international destination for Russian airlines in the summer 2026 schedule, with flights planned on 67 routes between the two countries, according to data reported by ATO.ru, citing Russia’s aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya. The figures show Uzbekistan surpassing other popular destinations for Russian carriers, including China and Turkey, by a significant margin. Flights to Uzbekistan will operate on 10 more routes than to China and 12 more than to Turkey. Other traditional leisure destinations, such as Thailand and Egypt, will see considerably fewer routes, with 35 and 33 respectively. According to the report, this marks a major shift compared to pre-pandemic travel patterns. In 2019, Uzbekistan ranked ninth among international destinations for Russian airlines, with passenger traffic totaling around 1.24 million people, well behind Turkey and China. The growing number of routes reflects strong demand for travel between the two countries. Analysts attribute this to labor migration, as well as expanding business and tourism ties. Uzbekistan has also gained importance as a transit hub, particularly as Western airspace restrictions now limit routing options for Russian carriers. Tashkent, in particular, has emerged as a key connection point for long-haul travel, including flights to the United States. Uzbekistan Airways remains the only Central Asian carrier operating transatlantic flights to New York. The trend is mirrored on the Uzbek side. According to earlier estimates by Lufthansa Consulting cited in the report, Russia accounted for 49% of Uzbek airlines’ passenger traffic in 2019, rising to 52% by 2022. In the current summer schedule, Uzbekistan Airways operates flights to 19 Russian cities, while private carriers such as Centrum Air and Qanot Sharq serve multiple destinations, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. A new airline, FlyOne Asia, is also expected to launch services on five routes from Tashkent to Russian cities. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported that Uzbekistan Airways continues to maintain regular operations on Russian routes, including a January incident in which a Boeing 767 flying from Tashkent to Vladivostok made a safe emergency landing in Krasnoyarsk.

Chess

Sindarov Ahead in Candidates, While Asaubayeva Shares Women’s Lead

Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan is leading after four rounds of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, the elite chess contest that will determine the challenger to the world champion. In the women’s competition, Bibisara Asaubayeva of Kazakhstan is tied for first place. Sindarov, winner of the 2025 World Cup in Goa, India, played with the white pieces and defeated Fabiano Caruana on Wednesday for his third win of the candidates tournament at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort near Paphos, Cyprus. Sindarov put early pressure on the American and built a sizeable advantage on the clock. The 20-year-old Uzbekistani player faces Hikaru Nakamura of the United States in the fifth round on Friday. Featuring eight players, the 14-round tournament began on March 28 and ends on April 16. The winner will challenge the current world champion, India’s Gukesh Dommaraju, later this year. In an interview with the Lichess platform, Sindarov said preparation was the key to the win over Caruana and he hasn’t been focused on whether other players would catch his early lead in the tournament. He currently has 3.5 points, while Caruana is in second place with 2.5 points. “I don’t think about this a lot,” he said. “I was just playing chess.” Sindarov’s style of play often includes “bold sacrifices, energetic attacks, and creative solutions to difficult positions,” making him an unpredictable competitor in Cyprus, according to the candidates tournament website. It noted his strong results at the elite level, among them a gold medal at the Chess Olympiad in 2022 in Chennai, India, “where Uzbekistan sensationally won ahead of many traditional chess powers.” In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, Asaubayeva, 22, drew in a game against China’s Tan Zhongyi on Wednesday. The Kazakhstani player and Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine are currently joint tournament leaders with 2.5 points. Asaubayeva plays against Kateryna Lagno of Russia in round five on Friday. The winner of the tournament will challenge the women’s world champion, Ju Wenjun of China. Asaubayeva won the Women’s World Blitz Championship in 2021, 2022 and again in 2025. FIDE, the Switzerland-based governing body of chess, awarded grandmaster status to Asaubayeva last year. “Unlike purely positional grinders, she thrives in active positions where initiative and momentum matter,” says the candidates tournament website, noting the Kazakhstani player’s standout composure in knockout and high-tempo formats.