Romanian Ambassador Takes Part in Tashkent Half Marathon

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Romanian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Daniel Cristian Ciobanu took part in the Tashkent International Half Marathon on September 6, competing in the 5-kilometer race.

During the event, the diplomat congratulated the people of Uzbekistan on the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence and praised the high level of organization of the competition.

Ciobanu wished Uzbekistan peace, prosperity and success. He said that holding an international half marathon contributes to the development of sporting ties between countries and strengthens international cooperation in the field.

The ambassador also highlighted the race route, which passed through Tashkent’s streets and near the city’s landmarks. He expressed his admiration for the organization of the event and the opportunity to see the capital while taking part in a sporting competition.

Speaking about Uzbekistan-Romania cooperation in sports, Ciobanu noted several events held in 2026. In May, Oybek Kasimov, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, visited Bucharest.

The ambassador also mentioned Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov’s participation in the Super Chess Classic Romania 2026 tournament. The competition was held in Bucharest from May 14 to 24, with Sindarov finishing third.

Another example of sporting ties was Uzbekistan’s national rhythmic gymnastics team taking part in the Challenge World Cup stage, held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, on June 26-28.

Ciobanu also highlighted Uzbekistan’s participation in the 2026 IHF Women’s U18 World Championship, which was held in Romania from July 29 to August 9.

According to Ciobanu, the sporting dialogue between the two countries has deeper roots. He cited Romanian State Secretary for Sports Thomas Moldovan’s visit to Uzbekistan in 2022 as one of the important milestones.

The Romanian diplomat’s participation in the Tashkent International Half Marathon marked another event in the ongoing sporting contacts between Uzbekistan and Romania.