SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN UZBEKISTAN: OLYMPIC CHAMPION DIYORA KELDIYOROVA MAKES GOLDEN COMEBACK AT AKTAU ASIAN OPEN 2026

      

Uzbekistan pays great attention to the development of physical education and sport. The legal framework for reforms in this area includes the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Physical Culture and Sport” and other regulations aimed at attracting citizens, particularly young people, women and children, to physical culture and sports. According to official sources, 15 million people have been involved in mass sports, while the number of citizens regularly engaged in sports has increased by almost 50% in recent years.

The country's sports infrastructure continues to expand. The Olympic Village and the National Football Center have opened, while Uzbekistan has hosted world and Asian championships in boxing, taekwondo, freestyle wrestling, fencing and other sports.

Preparations for the Olympic Games are governed, in particular, by Presidential Resolution No. RP-221 of 8 July 2025, “On the Comprehensive Preparation of Uzbekistan’s Athletes for the XXXIV Summer Olympic Games and XVIII Paralympic Games to Be Held in Los Angeles (USA) in 2028”. The resolution identifies judo as one of the priority sports in which the country aims to increase its medal tally.

In this context, the return of Diyora Keldiyorova, the Paris 2024 Olympic champion, to competitive judo is particularly noteworthy. At the Aktau Asian Open 2026, held on October 17-18 in Aktau (Kazakhstan), she claimed gold in the women’s under-52 kg category. Keldiyorova won all three of her bouts by ippon, marking her first appearance in international competition after a two-year break.

Diyora Keldiyorova’s victory is not only an outstanding sporting achievement but also a symbol of determination, strength of character and the considerable potential of Uzbekistan’s athletes. Her return to international competition and the gold medal serve as an inspiration to young people, especially to girls who aspire to fulfil their potential in sport and achieve outstanding results.

The sporting achievements of our compatriots have wider social significance, helping to strengthen a sense of national pride, patriotism and unity. From a sociological perspective, it is particularly important to explore how such achievements influence public attitudes, perceptions of healthy lifestyles and young people’s participation in sport. The international successes of Uzbekistan’s athletes not only enhance the standing of New Uzbekistan within the global sporting community but also help shape positive social values and aspirations, strengthen citizens’ confidence in their own abilities and encourage them to contribute to the development and prosperity of their country