Tashkent Hosts International Tournament
The Grand Prix judo international tournament has kicked off in Uzbekistan’s capital city.
More than 280 athletes from 42 nations vie for the grand prize and rating scores that offer a chance to book a ticket for the 31st Olympics due in 2016 in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro. The prestigious tournament in Tashkent is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the National Olympic Committee and the Judo Federation of our country under the aegis of the International Judo Federation.
The International Judo Federation, taking into account the great attention paid in Uzbekistan to the development of all types of sports, including judo, and taking into consideration the triumphs of Uzbek judokas in international sports arenas, took a decision in 2013 to grant Tashkent the right for the first time to hold prominent competitions of Grand Prix series. As it was defined, the tournament is going to be held in our country every year till the year 2016.
Uzbekistan’s Judo Federation has undertaken steadfast efforts to organize the Grand Prix tournament at a high level and in accordance with international standards.
The opening ceremony of the tournament took place October 16 in the Uzbekiston Sports Complex.
The festively decorated facility was packed with guests, athletes and coaches as well as sports fans. Participants of the international tournament – teams of 42 countries – appeared at the arena, and the State Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan was aired.
It was underscored at the opening ceremony of the competitions that under the leadership of President Islam Karimov the development of sports – an important factor in fostering a generation of physically and spiritually mature individuals, in further uplifting the authority of the Motherland, honor and pride of the people – has turned into a nationwide movement. At the same time, constant attention is paid to issues relating to further popularization of Olympic types of sports, to training and comprehensively supporting talented athletes capable of upholding with dignity the honor of the nation on the world sporting arenas.
According to Ian Snyders, official of the International Judo Federation, Uzbekistan wields a high potential in sports. “That is brightly manifest in the great variety of prestigious sports competitions and in the remarkable achievements Uzbek athletes have been making in the international sports arenas. Last year, the first Grand Prix tournament took place in Tashkent at a high level. I am convinced that the current one is also going to be interesting and exciting.”
Judo is an Olympic type of sport that has been speedily advancing in our country. The Uzbek masters of judo are regular victors and prize winners in Olympic and Asian Games, world and continental championships and various prominent tournaments, that is to say, each competition reveals the names of new talented athletes. It speaks of the constantly growing glory of the Uzbek school of judo.
The 25 February 2013 resolution of the head of our state outlining the preparations and training of Uzbekistan’s sportspeople for the 31st Olympics and the 15th Paralympics due in 2016 in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro is an important factor in the worthwhile participation of our judokas in prestigious competitions.
In the sports season of this year, Suhrob Tursunov won two medals – a bronze medal in individual and a gold medal in team competitions – at the Second Youth Olympics in China’s Nanjing. At the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, Dilshod Choriev earned silver, while Mirzohid Farmonov, Ramziddin Saidov and Abdulla Tangriev were awarded bronze medals. Members of our national team came third in team contests.
At the current tournament, the honor of our land is upheld also by young judokas along with victors and prize winners of the Olympic and Asian Games, world and continental championships, eminent international tournaments.
