Tajikistan Strikes Gold for First Time at CIS Games

Tajikistan has secured its first-ever gold medal at the Third CIS Games, marking a landmark moment in the country’s sporting history.

The breakthrough came on October 5, when 18-year-old boxer Behruz Umarov delivered a stellar performance in the 50 kg weight category, overcoming Uzbekistan’s Azizbek Shokirdjonov in a tense and technical final bout, The Caspian Post informs via Tajik media.

Umarov’s gold not only represents personal glory but also stands as a symbol of Tajikistan’s rising potential on the international sports stage.

Boxing Brings in More Medals

Tajikistan’s success in boxing didn’t stop at gold. A’zamjon Khasanov (48 kg) and Akbarjon Abdulloev (57 kg) each earned silver medals after making impressive runs to their respective finals. Khasanov was narrowly defeated by Azerbaijan’s Ali Aliyev, while Abdulloev put up a spirited fight against Uzbekistan’s Bobomurod Boymirzoyev, losing by a slim margin on points.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Rajabov made a splash in a less traditional sport for Tajikistan, earning bronze in the men’s 200m canoe sprint - a significant achievement in a discipline where the country has rarely reached the podium.

Tajikistan's Medal Tally (as of October 6):

1 Gold

3 Silver

13 Bronze

Martial Arts Powerhouse: Wrestling, Judo, Taekwondo & Sambo

Tajikistan’s strength in combat sports continued to show, with athletes bringing home medals across multiple martial arts categories:

Greco-Roman Wrestling:

Alirizo Bahromov (80 kg) - Bronze

Defeated Russia’s Issa Zangiev and closed with a strong win against Turkmenistan’s Arslan Azimberdiyev.

Judo:

Yusuf Zamonov (50 kg) - Silver

Abubakr Khudoyev (55 kg) - Bronze

Loik Kudbuddinov (60 kg) - Bronze

Taekwondo WT:

Abdujafari Bahodur (54 kg) - Bronze

Nurullo Murodov (74 kg) - Bronze

These were Tajikistan’s first medals at the Games.

Sambo:

Nazarali Kholov (64 kg) - Bronze

Yosin Khukumatov (71 kg) - Bronze

Boxing (Additional Bronzes):

Damir Nazarov (46 kg)

Umardjon Asrorov (66 kg)

Amir Nozimov (75 kg)

Furugh Sarhadzoda (60 kg) - Women’s category

Freestyle Wrestling:

Idris Bahromov (71 kg) - Bronze

CIS Games: A Platform for Growth

The Third CIS Games, held from September 28 to October 8, span five Azerbaijani cities: Ganja, Yevlakh, Gabala, Sheki, and Baku. The event has brought together 1,605 athletes from 10 countries, with 142 athletes representing Tajikistan.

This is Tajikistan’s third appearance at the CIS Games:

2021 (Kazan): 14 medals, 7th place

2023 (Minsk): 13 medals, 8th place