The Uzbekistan national team won the medal count at the III Open Central Asia Athletics Championship, which took place from August 23 to 25 in Tashkent. A total of 294 athletes from nine countries participated in this tournament. Uzbek athletes won a total of 61 medals, including 22 gold medals.
The competitions were held at the new athletics stadium in the Olympic Village and at the Uzbekistan Athletics Federation stadium. The tournament program covered both running and technical disciplines, such as sprints, middle and long distances, hurdles, relays, jumps, and throws.
By the end of the event, Uzbekistan won 22 gold, 20 silver, and 19 bronze medals. Kazakhstan came in second place in the overall standings, collecting 24 awards: 10 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze. Third place was awarded to the Turkmenistan national team, which received seven medals—2 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze. Representatives from all nine participating countries were on the podium.
The championship was organized by the Central Asian Academy of Running and Walking in conjunction with the Central Asian Athletics Association. The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan. Judges and specialists from various regions of the country, as well as international and regional technical delegations, participated in the organization. Over one hundred student volunteers contributed to the team's work.
The chief referee of the competition, Timur Asanov, noted that this championship marked the beginning of the international athletics season. During this season, athletes begin accumulating rating points necessary for participation in the 2027 World Championships. Furthermore, the tournament is part of the preparatory stage for athletes before the 2026 Summer Asian Games, which will be held in Japan.
One of the most intense disciplines was the women's sprint. Lailo Allaberganova from Uzbekistan twice won silver medals in the 100 and 200 meters, losing to Victoria An from Kazakhstan, who is a record holder and has participated in two Olympic Games. The finish in the 100 meters was extremely close: Allaberganova finished with a time of 11.92 seconds, beating An by only 0.07 seconds with 11.85 seconds. Valentina Meredova from Turkmenistan, an Olympian from Beijing, won the bronze medal in this distance with a time of 12.09 seconds. In the 200-meter race, Ani Mamatsashvili from Georgia took third place with a time of 24.78.
In the men's sprint, Sultan Gafurjonov brought two golds to Uzbekistan, winning in the 100 and 200 meters. Uzbek athletes also showed high results in middle and long distances, hurdles, and steeplechase. Uzbekistan teams won the men's and mixed 4x400 meter relays.
Uzbek athletes also performed successfully in technical sports. In women's high jump, Valeria Gorbatova won with a result of 1.88 meters. In men's long jump, Sarvar Meyliev and Abdurakhman Mahmudjonov won gold and silver, achieving results of 7.72 and 7.38 meters, respectively. Special attention was drawn to the performance of the Uzbekistan national team in shot put and discus among women, where they took all three podium spots. The men's javelin throw competition concluded with a victory for an Uzbek athlete.
The international level of competition was also demonstrated in jumping events. Tawan Kaeodam from Thailand won the men's high jump with a result of 2.17 meters. In women's long jump, Alina Chistyakova and Anastasia Rypakova from Kazakhstan won gold and silver, while Rozario Tia Lewis from Singapore took bronze. Maria Efremova from Kazakhstan won the women's triple jump.
The Secretary General of the Central Asian Athletics Association, Alexey Kondrat, emphasized that this is the third championship in the Association's history, noting the growth in its level, geography, and sporting competition. He highlighted the importance of the tournament as one of the key starting points for Central Asian athletes before the Asian Games, as well as an opportunity to confirm places in national teams. Kondrat added that the competitions allow for the assessment of the potential of a new generation of athletes under serious international competition, laying the foundation for the development of athletics in the region.
Tashkent previously hosted the regional open championship in 2024, when the Uzbekistan national team won 69 medals: 18 gold, 28 silver, and 23 bronze. In 2026, the competition will be held again in the capital, bringing together leading athletes from the region and expanding international participation.
Thus, the III Open Central Asia Championship confirmed the high level of competitive struggle in the region and served as a significant international start for athletes before major seasonal events. Holding the tournament at the facilities of the Olympic Village also contributed to the use of Tashkent's new sports infrastructure for world-class events.
