Mirziyoyev Reviews Uzbekistan’s Sports Achievements and Outlines Goals for 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 20 January, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation detailing the results of the country’s sports sector in 2025, outcomes of major competitions, and priorities for 2026.

It was noted that the creation of a comprehensive system for sports training has begun to yield tangible results. Participation in mass sports reached 15 million people, and the number of citizens regularly engaging in physical activity has increased nearly 1.5 times in recent years.

In 2025, Uzbek athletes demonstrated strong performances on the international stage. The youth national team finished 13th at the World University Games, second at the Youth Games in Bahrain and the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia, and won first place at the Youth Para-Asian Games in the UAE.

For the first time, the national football team secured a spot in the World Cup, while chess player Javokhir Sindarov qualified for the Candidates Tournament for the World Chess Championship.

At the same time, it was emphasized that these achievements should not be seen as the limit of Uzbekistan’s potential. The existing sports infrastructure must be fully utilized, as current results in several disciplines do not yet reflect the country’s full capabilities. Accordingly, the goal has been set to increase mass sports participation to 17 million people.

To develop a strong reserve of athletes for international competitions and the Olympics, a transparent selection system continues to be implemented within the framework of the Presidential Olympics. In the first cycle of the competition, 103,000 athletes participated, with over 3,000 competing in the final stage across 11 sports, contending for 135 gold, 134 silver, and 227 bronze medals. The President instructed that such competitions be held twice a year, expanded to regional levels for athletes aged 13–14, and gradually increase the number of sports disciplines to 20.

It was highlighted that the newly commissioned Olympic Village and National Football Center represent major milestones in the history of Uzbek sports. Seventeen Olympic sports federations and other sports organizations have already relocated to the Olympic Village. The President stressed that these complexes should become symbols of national sports and serve as a unified sports cluster.

A strong emphasis is placed on the scientific approach to sports development. High performance depends not only on infrastructure and competitions but also on systematic development across all areas of sports science. Tasks have been defined to broadly implement modern methods in sports pharmacology, nutrition, functional and physical training, rehabilitation, and individualized workload planning. Scientific research must be intensified, advanced developments and latest achievements applied in practice, and knowledge exchange strengthened through national and international forums and conferences.

The President emphasized the importance of engaging the private sector and investors in the development of sports infrastructure, training centers, and the sports services market. Particular attention is given to sports schools at the neighborhood level, early identification of talented youth, and their targeted training.

International sports events planned for January in Tashkent were discussed in detail, including the meeting of the Executive Bureau of the World Swimming Federation, the session of the Central Asian Regional Anti-Doping Agency (RADOCA), an international forum, and the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia. The General Assembly will determine key directions for the Olympic movement in Asia and elect the Council’s president. Over 360 representatives of international sports organizations are expected to participate, including the IOC, the Olympic Council of Asia, and heads of international federations. The President instructed that all events be organized at a high level.

It was noted that Uzbekistan holds stable positions in sports wrestling regionally and globally. To further develop this sector, a Regional Academy of Martial Arts will be established. Beginning this year, competitions such as the President’s Cup, the “Uzbekistan Heroes” tournament, the Prosecutor General’s Cup, and contests for military personnel will be held regularly. In 2026, new regional sports schools will start training athletes in Greco-Roman, freestyle, and women’s wrestling alongside the national kurash program, and by the end of the year, at least one wrestling club will be opened in each school of every district and city.

The President was also briefed on Uzbekistan’s preparation for the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Italy. He instructed responsible officials to ensure full and high-quality implementation of all tasks, actively promote sports, and achieve consistent results on the international stage.