The XXth Asian Games will be held in the cities of Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4 of this year. In these prestigious multi-year complex competitions, which involve athletes from 45 countries in 43 sports across 71 disciplines, sporting events, especially football tournaments, consistently attract the attention of most sports fans.
Today, July 23, the organizing committee of the 'Aichi-Nagoya 2026' Summer Asian Games conducted a draw ceremony for team sports, specifically for the football competitions.
A modern sports complex built for the residents of the Uchtepe district of the capital has been officially commissioned. This opening coincides with the 35th anniversary of Independence and the 5th anniversary of the 'Paxtakor Junior' project.
This sports facility is equipped according to all modern requirements. The football field is built to international dimensions, providing necessary conditions for both athletes and coaches. Additionally, special rooms for commentators and spectators have been created, and the entire field area is covered by video surveillance systems.
It is separately noted that this system is integrated with the central base of the 'Pakhtakor' football club. Within the sports complex, the official children's and youth football club 'Paxtakor Junior' was established. In this school, children aged from 150 to 500 are mastering the secrets of professional football under the guidance of qualified coaches.
According to specialists, this modern football complex is a practical embodiment of the reforms being carried out in the country. It serves the goals of developing youth sports, unlocking the potential of young people, and raising a healthy generation.
Following the 19th Summer Asian Games in Hangzhou (China) in 2022, where the Uzbekistan delegation achieved its best historical results in terms of the quantity and quality of medals, attention is now focused on the upcoming 20th Summer Asian Games to be held in Japan.
Currently, the Ministry of Sport, the National Olympic Committee, and relevant sports federations are taking necessary measures to achieve worthy results at the 20th Summer Asian Games, which will take place in the cities of Aichi and Nagoya (Japan) from September 19 to October 4 of this year. Training camps are being organized for national teams, and analytical work and monitoring are being conducted with the participation of experts and specialists.
The Ministry of Sport, the National Olympic Committee, and the federations for wrestling, martial arts, mixed martial arts, and other sports have analyzed the preparation processes carried out jointly with the heads of these federations. During discussions, issues regarding the physical and psychological preparation of athletes for prestigious international competitions, as well as the effective organization of training camps, were reviewed.
Reports from responsible persons on the preparatory activities being conducted were heard at the meeting. Recommendations were put forward to improve the activities of coaches and strengthen the selection system. Following the discussion, the heads of the sports federations were instructed to timely and qualitatively fulfill the assigned tasks, increase the performance of athletes on the international stage, and ensure worthy participation in future Asian Games.
Previously, at the Asian Games in Indonesia in 2018, the country's athletes won 20 gold, 24 silver, and 25 bronze medals. In 2022, the figures improved: 22 gold, 18 silver, and 31 bronze medals were won. According to the author, the large-scale reforms being implemented in the country in the field of updating sports infrastructure, developing mass sports, and preparing qualified athletes indicate that 'Aichi-Nagoya-2026' will mark the beginning of new successes in the country's sporting history.
Nevertheless, in major sports, success in intense competitions against the strongest teams from giant countries depends not only on adequate preparation but also on luck. The author expresses hope that the athletes and national teams, oriented towards 'battles' at the Asian Games, will always have open doors to success.
The career fair 'TalabaExpo – 2026' took place in the city of Navoi at the Alisher Navoi recreation park. The event was organized with the participation of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, JSC 'Uzmilliibank', the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Navoi Region Administration, and the Youth Affairs Agency as part of the 'Step into the Future' program.
Ensuring decent employment for young people in the country, supporting entrepreneurial initiatives, and increasing the economic activity of young individuals are among the key directions of state policy. An important legal basis is the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated February 14, 2025, on 'Additional Measures to Facilitate Employment of Higher Education Graduates.'
In accordance with this decree, special attention is paid to ensuring graduate employment, supporting their business ideas, and expanding opportunities for using preferential financial resources. Systematic work is also being carried out in the Navoi region under this resolution. The event, organized to ensure graduate employment, their placement, direction to internships and traineeships, and support for startup ideas, gathered over 100 companies and organizations.
Currently, more than 8 thousand students are completing their studies in four higher education institutions in the Navoi region during the 2025-2026 academic year. Additionally, 4676 graduates from other regions are under constant monitoring. According to available information, Navoi State University graduates 4876 students in the 2025/2026 academic year. Of these, 1942 people found permanent employment, 83 became individual entrepreneurs, 663 self-employed, 737 are in childcare, 24 have disabilities, and 1427 are awaiting employment.
Bahora Abdukodirova, a native of the Narpay district of Samarkand region, shared her experience: 'I graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Navoi State University. At this fair, I met vacancies presented by organizations and companies. Company representatives provided me with detailed information about open positions. I got a job at one of the state organizations. I am very happy about this.' The 'Step into the Future' program provides students with the opportunity to choose a suitable place of work, and the program itself is one of the initiatives that helps youth find jobs, direct them according to labor market needs, and create a direct link with employers.
Mirjon Qahhorov, Director of the 'Step into the Future' Center at the Navoi Regional Hospital of JSC 'Uzmilliibank', reported that JSC 'Uzmilliibank' has concluded cooperation agreements with four higher education institutions in the Navoi region through the Navoi Regional Administration. Regional branches of the 'Step into the Future' centers have also been established at Navoi State University and Navoi State University of Finishing and Technology. Through these centers, students' business ideas are refined into full-fledged projects, promising initiatives are financed, and graduate employment is ensured in cooperation with employers. In the 2024-2025 academic year, preferential loans totaling 8 billion 809 million soms were allocated to 168 projects presented by graduates. As a result, 185 young people found employment. Of these, 154 self-employed projects received a loan of 1 billion 540 million soms, and 14 legal entities received 7 billion 269 million soms, which provided permanent employment for another 41 young people.
Similar events continue in 2026. Since the beginning of the year, credit funds totaling 25 billion 717 million soms have been directed to support graduates and young entrepreneurs for 150 projects. Consequently, employment was secured for 171 young people. 133 projects were financed with preferential loans under the 'Step into the Future' and 'Future Entrepreneur' programs amounting to 13 billion 97 million soms. The remaining 17 projects received commercial loans totaling 12 billion 620 million soms.
