The air gates of the country – the Tashkent International Airport named after Islam Karimov – are witnesses of many joyful events.

But today, here, the meeting of chess players who achieved a victory of historical significance, the first moments of joy that we shared with the winners, and the impressions of the exciting minutes of the 44th World Chess Olympiad gave us special feelings.

The victory of Uzbekistan’s chess players at the Chess Olympiad held in India, in which teams from 188 countries took part, instilled a sense of great pride. This success once again demonstrated to the world how high the intellectual potential of our people, who successfully overcame the events of a string of centuries.

Speaking at the welcoming ceremony organized at the airport, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov read out the congratulations of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the winners.

People’s poet of Uzbekistan Mahmud Toir, winner of the 44th World Chess Olympiad Nodirbek Abdusattorov noted the historical significance of this victory, the vitality of the reforms being carried out in the country on the path of youth development.

The chess players, who glorified the honor of the country, were presented with gifts from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan – keys to cars and certificates for cash prizes.

“We are glad to return home with a gold medal. The telephone call of the Head of the state and his congratulations instilled in us a sense of pride. For the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, we won a gold medal”, Jakhongir Vakhidov said. – We are sincerely grateful to everyone who supported us, we are grateful to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. We achieved victory thanks to this support, attention and care.

“We did not expect such a result. Each game was very difficult. The pressure was very strong. Thanks to all the compatriots who prayed for us and supported us. I think this is the beginning of our victorious path”, Nodirbek Yakubboyev said.

“I watched the 44th Chess Olympiad with great excitement”, Fazliddin Ochilov, father of Nodirbek Abdusattorov said. – Every parent wants his child to fight for the sake of the Motherland and become a winner. Our children justified the trust. The heroism of young athletes, mentors and specialists, who for 13 days showed courage in competitions with the strongest representatives of mental gymnastics from 188 countries, is worthy of recognition and admiration. As noted in the congratulation of the Head of the state, such purposeful and devoted to the Motherland youth is our greatest wealth, the golden fund of our people.

During the competition, 17-year-old Nodirbek Abdusattorov, 20-year-old Nodirbek Yakubboyev, 16-year-old Javokhir Sindarov, and 20-year-old Shamsiddin Vokhidov and a veteran, the pride of the team, 27-year-old Jakhongir Vakhidov did not suffer a single defeat. According to the results of the team event among 188 countries, Uzbekistan’s chess players won a gold medal. Silver and bronze medals went to the teams of Armenia and India.

In the competition among girls, the team of Ukraine won the gold medal, the next steps were taken by the teams of Georgia and India. In competitions among teams from 162 countries, Uzbekistan’s girls took 31st place. This result testifies to the popularity of chess among girls in the country.

Another aspect deserves attention. At the World Chess Olympiad, the winners were determined not only in team competitions, but also winners based on individual results. Our talented chess players have also demonstrated worthy results in this direction: Jakhongir Vakhidov won a gold medal among chess players who played on the 4th board, Nodirbek Abdusattorov won a silver medal among chess players who played on the 1st board, Nodirbek Yakubboyev among chess players who played on the 2nd board – a bronze medal.

It is appropriate to say that the victory of chess players, which demonstrated to the whole world the intellectual potential of Uzbekistan youth, became a worthy gift for the greatest, dearest holiday – the 31st anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence. Years will pass, but the glory won at the 44th World Chess Olympiad will not fade. For perhaps the first achievement in Chennai is the beginning of new victories.

Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan A. Abduvokhitov took part in the meeting of chess heroes.

[gallery-8258]

Tulqin Ruziyev, UzA