The development of mass sports and the formation of a healthy lifestyle is one of the priority areas of state policy in Uzbekistan concerning youth policy. Reforms implemented under the President's initiative are elevating the student sports system to a qualitatively new stage, viewing sports activities in higher education institutions not merely as extracurricular activities, but as a key element for selecting talented athletes, fostering a healthy lifestyle, and preparing reserves for the international arena.
"Olympiad of Young Uzbekistan" - The Largest Project in the Country's History
The results of these reforms became evident in the first half of 2026 due to the work of the Uzbekistan Student Sports Association. The first-ever holding of the "Olympiad of Young Uzbekistan," the traditional "Students' League," and the "Barkamol Avlod–2025/2026" competitions demonstrated the formation of an integrated system for developing student sports, including successful participation on the international stage and institutional changes.
During the President's open dialogue with youth on February 24 of this year, important tasks were set regarding expanding opportunities for meaningful free time, regular sports activities, and further developing mass sports. As a practical implementation of these directives, the "Olympiad of Young Uzbekistan" was organized—the first such tournament in the country's history, involving the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Sport, and the National Olympic Committee.
Progress and Results of the "Olympiad of Young Uzbekistan"
The grand opening of the competition took place in March 2026 at the Museum of Glory of the Olympics and Paralympics in Tashkent. The tournament was held in three stages across disciplines such as 3x3 basketball, volleyball, handball, athletics, table tennis, swimming, and football.
The first stage, consisting of qualifying matches in higher educational institutions, ran from April 1 to 30. More than 154 thousand students from 170 higher educational institutions of the republic participated, marking one of the highest coverage figures in the history of the country's student sports.
At the regional stage, which took place from May 1 to 15, nearly 10 thousand athletes from 146 higher educational institutions participated. The republican final, held in Tashkent from June 4 to 9, was organized on a high standard at facilities such as the "Olympic Village," the University of Physical Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan, Chirchik State Pedagogical University, the National Football Center, and other modern sports complexes.
A total of 2368 people participated in the final matches: 1920 athletes, 336 coaches, and 112 delegation representatives. According to the overall team score, Fergana State University took first place, winning 7 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze medals. Urgench State University came second with 7 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals, and Karakalpak State University placed third with 4 gold and 3 silver medals.
Among universities without a physical culture and sports major, Tashkent State Economic University was recognized as the winner. The next places were taken by the Uzbekistan State University of World Languages and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy.
"Barkamol Avlod" and "Students' League" Strengthen the Sports System
The "Barkamol Avlod–2025/2026" competitions among students of vocational-technical educational institutions were also held at a high organizational level. These competitions, which lasted from November 2025 to May 2026, covered 16 sports. Throughout the season, 98,673 people participated in the first stage, 77,568 in district and city stages, and 24,856 at the regional level. 3094 athletes were sent to the republican final.
224 teams from academic lyceums, technical schools, and vocational-technical educational institutions participated in the competitions. Republican finals were held in disciplines such as judo, badminton, athletics, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, weightlifting, chess, checkers, volleyball, basketball, combat sports, table tennis, streetball, street workout, football, and handball. In terms of overall team score, Tashkent City took first place, Bukhara Region second, and Khorezm Region third.
The grand closing ceremony took place on June 9 at the "Olympic Village," where winners and prize-winners were awarded diplomas, medals, commemorative gifts, and Presidential gifts.
The "Students' League" also strengthened the competitive environment among higher educational institutions. These competitions were held in badminton, basketball, volleyball, handball, athletics, wrestling, table tennis, futsal, chess, rugby-7, water polo, and field hockey. 176 teams and 3346 students participated in the republican finals, of whom 1388 were female. The final stages were held in the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Fergana, Andijan, and Sunyndary.
International Representation and Institutional Reforms
During the reporting period, the Association paid special attention to expanding international cooperation. The country's delegation participated in the international sports festival "45-Sports Fest 2026," organized by Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 14 to 17, 2026. Representatives from over 25 countries, more than 70 universities, and over 1000 athletes participated in this event.
Students from Guliston State University, Urgench State University, and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy represented the country. The futsal team from Guliston State University became the champion of the festival. Jamshidbek Tuychiev and Farrukh Azadov won gold in the men's doubles category in badminton. Jamshidbek Tuychiev also won in the mixed doubles category. Students from Uzbekistan also achieved success in table tennis, reaching the final stages.
As part of institutional reforms, a republican training seminar was held in Tashkent in March for leaders and deputy leaders of sports clubs in higher educational institutions. Issues regarding improving club activities, the quality of competition organization, and the introduction of modern management mechanisms were discussed.
Furthermore, an extraordinary conference of the Uzbekistan Student Sports Association was held, where a new charter for the organization was approved. Muzaffar Pazilov was elected Chief Secretary of the Association according to the conference resolution. Tasks were set to organize the activities of university sports clubs in accordance with the standards of the International Federation of University Sports (FISU), expand international programs, and strengthen the positions of universities in international rankings.
Significance of the New Development Stage
The results of the first half of 2026 demonstrate the stable and consistent development of student sports in the country. Thanks to the "Olympiad of Young Uzbekistan," over 154 thousand students were involved in sports life. The "Barkamol Avlod" competitions strengthened the continuous sports system, while the "Students' League" advanced the competitive environment between universities to a new level. Achievements in international competitions, improvement of sports club operations, implementation of FISU standards, and modernization of the management structure are of great importance for the development of student sports.
Today, student sports serves not only as a tool for ensuring mass participation but also as a mechanism for training highly qualified athletes, forming reserves for national teams, and enhancing the country's prestige on the world stage. This is a vivid testament to the practical effectiveness of state policy towards youth in New Uzbekistan.
