At the 19th Asian Games in China’s Hangzhou, Uzbekistan athletes secured a remarkable 71 awards, comprising 22 gold, 18 silver, and 31 bronze medals, and took an honorable fifth place among 45 countries. The sports delegation, which glorified the nation and showcased the sporting potential of New Uzbekistan, was ceremoniously welcomed back at the Tashkent International Airport named after Islam Karimov.
11 thousand competitors from 45 countries of the continent participated in the Asian Games, organised under the auspices of the Olympic Council of Asia. In the prestigious multi-sport event, held every 4 years, more than 370 athletes from Uzbekistan competed in 38 sports, vying for medals in 32 Olympic and 6 non-Olympic sports.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan A. Aripov attended the grand reception of the sports delegation, which exulted the country’s honor at the 19th Asian Games, and read out the President’s congratulations.
At the Asian Games, the capabilities and potential of Uzbekistan athletes, who will represent the nation at the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in Paris, were once again demonstrated. The results in Hangzhou again highlighted how accurately Uzbekistan’s coaches and specialists had prepared the athletes for complex competitions.
– I am pleased with the results achieved at the Asian Games and the honoring of the Motherland, – said the winner of the continental, world, Olympic, and Asian Games Bakhodir Jalolov. – We entered the fight feeling the trust and support of thousands of sports fans and people. Success at the Asian Games was achieved thanks to the vast opportunities provided in the country for the development of sports worthy of participation in prestigious sports competitions.
It is noteworthy that at the 18th Asian Games held in Indonesia in 2018, the Uzbekistan sports delegation won 20 gold, 24 silver, and 25 bronze – a total of 69 medals. At the competitions in Hangzhou, 22 gold, 18 silver, and 31 bronze were awarded – a total of 71 medals.
At the current Asian Games, representatives of 27 countries won gold medals, and athletes from 41 countries were limited to at least one award. During the competition in Hangzhou, 13 world records were updated in various sports, which became a historical indicator of the Asian Games. Considering that 1,000 athletes from Thailand, 700 from India, and 527 from Kazakhstan took part in the Asian Games, it is noteworthy that Uzbekistan representatives – 370 athletes, effectively used their capabilities and achieved high results.
At the Asian Games, Uzbekistan athletes were ahead of Chinese Taipei, Bahrain, North Korea, Hong Kong, Iran, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Kuwait – countries where sports are developed and in the overall team competition after China, Japan, South Korea and India took an honorable fifth place, opening another bright page in the history of sports in Uzbekistan. This will serve as a springboard for even better results at the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in 2024 in France and the 20th Asian Games in Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya in 2026.
Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan O. Abdurakhmonov attended the ceremony.