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Sports

Tajikistan Hosts Grand Slam Judo, Wins Three Golds

Tajikistan showcased its world-class judo skills during the Dushanbe Grand Slam over the weekend, picking up three gold medals in a competition that featured 240 judoka, or practitioners of the martial art, from about three-dozen countries. While Russia topped the standings with three golds, three silvers and six bronze medals, Tajikistan’s second-place finish (three golds and one bronze) reflected the high priority of the sport in a country that is also promoting gushtingiri, a traditional form of Tajik wrestling that has some similarities to judo. Mongolia came third with two golds, two silvers and one bronze. Tajikistan’s capital has become a fixture on the international judo circuit in the last few years. The city hosted the 2024 World Junior Championships, and the Dushanbe Grand Slam was upgraded from Grand Prix status, making it a more prestigious tournament that awards a greater number of ranking points. Dushanbe will also host the World Judo Masters tournament on December 18-20, an event that Ismoil Mahmadzoir, president of the Tajikistan Judo Federation, has said will help Tajikistan’s judoka prepare for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. Tajikistan’s emergence as a world judo power reflects years of investment and youth training in the sport, setting an example for the development of other sports in a country with relatively limited resources. Rasul Boqiev won Olympic bronze, the country’s first judo medal at the games, in Beijing in 2008. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, judokas Somon Makhmadbekov (in the -81kg weight category) and Temur Rakhimov (+100kg) also won bronze medals in their weight classes. The focus on judo in Tajikistan is sometimes associated with the legacy of gushtingiri, a traditional form of Tajik wrestling that has some similarities. In gushtingiri, a contestant tries to grab the belt of an opponent and execute a throw to the ground. While the sport goes back thousands of years in the wider region and has different names, the International Gushtingiri Federation was registered in 2022 in Switzerland, an international hub of sports associations, to standardize the rules and broaden its appeal. President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan is the honorary president of the federation, a sign of support for gushtingiri at the highest political level. At the May 1-3 Grand Slam in Dushanbe, Makhmadbekov – seventh in the world in his weight category - defeated Bernd Fasching of Austria for the gold, saying he was delighted to win in front of a home crowd. Makhmadbekov secured the world junior title in 2019. Tajikistan’s other gold medal winners in Dushanbe were Muhiddin Asadulloev, who is fourth in the world in his -73kg weight category, and Nurali Emomali (-66kg). Emomali is ranked second in the world in his category, and another Tajik athlete, Obid Zhebov, is just behind him in third place. Enthusiastic crowds at the Qasri Tennis area in Dushanbe delighted some of the athletes. Among them was Italian veteran Odette Giuffrida, who won gold in her -52kg category, according to tournament reports. “I wanted to compete in Dushanbe before I retire because...

Sports

European Athletes Dominate World Triathlon Championships in Samarkand

The city of Samarkand hosted the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) from 25-26 April, further cementing Uzbekistan's reputation within the Olympic Movement. The event saw more than 150 athletes from over 40 countries compete on Samarkand’s Olympic-distance course, weaving through UNESCO World Heritage sites and historic Silk Road landmarks, including the breathtaking Eternal City complex. In the elite races, the world’s top triathletes battled for crucial ranking points. Vasco Vilaça from Portugal took gold in the men’s category with a time of 1:43:33, while the UK's Beth Potter secured the top spot on the podium for the women’s race after a dramatic final run segment through the historic city centre. "This weekend marked another landmark sporting occasion for Uzbekistan," said Otabek Umarov, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Deputy Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan. "By bringing the World Triathlon Championship Series to Samarkand, we have once again shown that Uzbekistan can successfully deliver some of the world’s biggest sporting events, blending our warm hospitality with world-class sport." This event follows a series of major international sporting events recently hosted in Uzbekistan, including the record-breaking World Taekwondo Junior Championships in April, the Fencing World Cup and the Judo Grand Slam, alongside the largest-ever OCA General Assembly. These successes underline a national strategy driven by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has made the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles a cornerstone of the country's development. With 60% of Uzbekistan’s population under the age of 30, Mirziyoyev's initiatives focus on leveraging world-class sporting events to inspire the next generation to engage in physical activity and pursue excellence on the global stage.

TCA Interviews

Kazakhstan’s Ruslan Kurbanov on Reaching the World Fencing Elite

Ruslan Kurbanov is a Kazakhstani épée fencer, a Master of Sport of International Class in Kazakhstan, a World Cup medalist, a two-time World Championships bronze medalist, and a two-time Olympian. He began his journey in a children’s fencing club in Ust-Kamenogorsk and has since risen to fourth in the world rankings. Today, he competes on the biggest stages, where a single touch can decide the outcome of a bout and the pressure from the stands can be overwhelming. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, he explains how he handles that pressure, maintains focus amid crowd noise, and stays in control when everything is at stake. TCA: Congratulations, you’ve already won two World Cup medals this year, gold and silver. That’s an impressive result. Ruslan: Thank you. I’m pleased with these medals because, in reality, very few athletes can deliver consistent results across two consecutive competitions. TCA: How did you manage it? Ruslan: With experience, you gradually learn more about your body and how to prepare for competitions. You also become more familiar with the fencing world, you get to know many athletes, understand their strengths and weaknesses, study them, and prepare accordingly. Over time, you mature as an athlete and become more consistent. You develop a clear understanding of the level of results you are capable of. [caption id="attachment_47744" align="aligncenter" width="300"] @kazfencing.kz[/caption] TCA: You won silver in Astana. Do home conditions give you an advantage? Ruslan: There are two sides to that. On the one hand, the advantages are obvious: you’re at home, with familiar food, climate, and time zone, all of which help you prepare in a comfortable environment. On the other hand, there is pressure. When you compete at home, people expect you to deliver your best result. TCA: So winning a medal was a must? Ruslan: Of course. But I also had another goal. This was the first World Cup event held in Kazakhstan, and I understood that many local spectators would attend, perhaps seeing fencing for the first time. First impressions are crucial. People either fall in love with the sport or they don’t. For me, it was important to present fencing at its best, dynamic, exciting, and worthy. Maybe “present” is too strong a word, but I wanted people, especially children, to feel inspired, to have that spark. When kids see victories and the emotions athletes experience afterward, they start thinking, “I want that too,” and they come into the sport. TCA: Do you think you managed to inspire them? Ruslan: I hope so. After the final, when I stepped off the piste, many children came up to me, and parents asked for photos and autographs. It’s very rewarding to see that it resonated with someone and may have stayed with them. TCA: You were ranked seventh in the world? Ruslan: Now I’m fourth. After the tournament in Astana, I moved up to fourth place. TCA: In the final, you lost only to Ukraine’s Roman Svichkar. Do they have a particularly strong...

World Nomad Games

Horses, Eagles, and Fire: The Steppe Awakens as the 2026 World Nomad Games Return to Kyrgyzstan

On the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, where mountains drop sharply into the water, and horses and cars are found in almost equal measure, Kyrgyzstan will host the World Nomad Games 2026 from August 31 to September 6, with The Times of Central Asia reporting from the ground. Since their launch in 2014, the Games have grown well beyond their origins, drawing competitors and audiences from across the world. This year’s emblem, the snow leopard, captures that idea with unusual precision. It has been adopted as the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan in recent years and has long been central to the country’s conservation diplomacy, including its role in establishing October 23 as International Snow Leopard Day. Presented as a representation of strength, clarity, and endurance, it reflects both the terrain and the mindset that fortifies the event. [caption id="attachment_46882" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: International Secretariat of the World Nomad Games[/caption] The Games have expanded beyond the region, but are now returning home again. Kyrgyzstan hosted the first three editions before they went to Turkey in 2022 and Kazakhstan in 2024. Their homecoming now carries greater international weight, reinforced by UNESCO’s support, recognizing their role in preserving intangible cultural heritage. This year’s experience is mostly set in the Issyk-Kul region, around three hours from Bishkek, where the mountainous landscape will form the backdrop to the lakeside venues. The opening and closing ceremonies are scheduled to take place in the capital’s Bishkek Arena. In Cholpon Ata, the hippodrome will host horse racing and Kok Boru, while the nearby sports complex stages wrestling competitions. The Rukh Ordo Cultural Center brings together strength events and traditional tournaments alongside parts of the cultural program. In Kyrchyn, the Ethno Village will become the core of the experience, where archery, falconry, crafts, performances, and food sit within a setting that reflects nomadic life. [caption id="attachment_46886" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Kok Boru at the Bishkek Hippodrome, 2014; image: Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Forty-plus sports disciplines will be spread across competitive and demonstrative formats, with more than 100 medals at stake. Kok Boru is fast and unforgiving, played on horseback as riders grapple over what was traditionally a headless goat carcass (now a synthetic dummy or serke), surging and colliding before hurling it into the opponent’s goal. [caption id="attachment_46885" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: International Secretariat of the World Nomad Games[/caption] Horseback archery demands precision under movement, with riders standing in the stirrups or twisting at full gallop to fire arrows at distant targets. Eagle hunting illustrates a partnership between human and bird refined over generations, as trained golden eagles launch from the arm to track and strike prey across open ground. [caption id="attachment_46887" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Woman with a bird of prey, World Nomad Games, Astana, 2024; image: Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Wrestling styles such as Alysh and Kurash emphasize balance and control rather than brute force, with fighters gripping belts and using timing, leverage, and footwork to unbalance their opponent. The Times of Central Asia spoke with the International Secretariat of the World Nomad Games to...

Sports

Kazakhstan Begins First Public-Private Partnership Sports Facility Project

Construction has begun in the Atyrau region on Kazakhstan’s first sports boarding school for athletically gifted children, to be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the private partner will be responsible for the full project cycle from design and construction to technical maintenance of the facility for five years after its completion, which is scheduled for May 2027. The new school will feature modern academic buildings and residential facilities. The 3.2-hectare site will include an academic block for 400 students, a 300-bed dormitory, 13 gyms, a swimming pool, a cafeteria, a library, a stadium, running tracks, and basketball and volleyball courts. The project in Atyrau is intended as a pilot, with plans to replicate similar facilities in other regions of the country. The school is expected to train 400 young athletes across 13 Olympic sports. Officials say the project will create improved conditions for developing the country’s sports reserve by integrating academic education with professional training. In recent years, the development of sports in Kazakhstan has received increased state support, contributing to stronger performances by Kazakh athletes in international competitions. In the first quarter of 2026, Kazakhstani athletes won 200 medals at international events: 79 gold, 57 silver, and 64 bronze. At the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, in February, Kazakhstan won one gold medal and finished 19th in the overall medal standings. This marks the country’s best result since 1994, when it placed 12th at the Lillehammer Olympics, where skier Vladimir Smirnov won gold. In 2026, Kazakhstan’s only medal was secured by figure skater Mikhail Shaidorov, who became the country’s first Olympic champion in figure skating. At the Paralympic Games in Italy in March 2026, Kazakhstan placed 18th out of 55 countries in the medal standings. Yerbol Khamitov won two medals, gold in the biathlon pursuit and bronze in cross-country sprint, becoming the first Kazakhstani athlete to win two medals at a Winter Paralympics.

Football

Tajikistan Didn´t Qualify for World Cup, But Its Young Players Are Winning

Uzbekistan have qualified for this year's FIFA World Cup, while Tajikistan didn’t make it to the tournament. But their fortunes were reversed in a Central Asian junior event, suggesting that Tajik football is poised for a brighter future. Coached by Jafar Akhmedov, Tajikistan’s team won the Central Asian Football Association U17 championship on Monday, securing the title with a 0-0 draw with second-placed Uzbekistan in Tashkent. Tajikistan was top of the field with 10 points, while Uzbekistan had eight. Previously, Tajikistan’s team beat Turkmenistan (5-1), Kyrgyzstan (4-0) and Afghanistan (3-2). Two players on the Tajik team were recognized individually by the tournament. Bihisti Rajabzod was awarded the prize of most valuable player, or MVP, and the top scorer was Sioyosh Nazarov with four goals. The headquarters of the Central Asia Football Association, a sub-group of the Asian Football Confederation, is in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Its six members are Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan has been a member of the Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA, since 2002. Uzbekistan will compete in the World Cup for the first time this year and faces Colombia, Portugal and Democratic Republic of Congo in Group K. Uzbekistan’s team is led by coach Fabio Cannavaro, captain of Italy’s winning team in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Tajikistan turned in some solid performances in World Cup qualifying games, including a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia and a 3-0 win over Pakistan. Although Tajikistan didn’t manage to qualify for this year’s expanded tournament, it has qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next year.