The Tajikistan sambo masters’ (veterans) team has returned from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, where they delivered a triumphant performance at the Asian Cup in sambo, judo, and Kazakh national wrestling (kazakh-kuresi).
According to Saydali Urazaliyev, senior coach of the Tajikistan Sambo Federation, each participant from Tajikistan earned three medals of varying value.
Urazaliyev himself was one of the most successful competitors, winning gold medals in both sambo and kazakh-kuresi, and silver in judo. The Master of Sports of the Soviet Union in both sambo and judo, Urazaliyev is a multiple international tournament champion and medalist. From 2008 to 2018, he led the Mixed Martial Arts Association of Tajikistan. Since January 2025, he has been the senior coach for the Tajikistan sambo and judo teams in the masters (veteran) category.
Another standout was Abushakhnai Saidkhon, who cemented his reputation as one of the country’s top wrestlers, earning three medals in the competition.
Ramz Jurayev, the Master of Sports of Tajikistan and a multiple winner and medalist in Asian and World Championships for veterans, continued his streak of success, becoming the champion in both sambo and judo, and also winning silver in kazakh-kuresi.
Faiziddin Emomov earned silver in sambo and kazakh-kuresi, as well as bronze in judo.
Other medalists included masters of sports Faizali Yakhshibekov, Ruslan Zarifbekov, Tirkash Avghonov, Rasoul Hodizoda, and Umar Zammon.
“The performance of Tajik athletes at the Asian Cup in Kazakhstan is a bright testament to the steady development of sambo, judo, and wrestling in Tajikistan,” noted Urazaliyev. “The impressive results, demonstrated by both active athletes and veterans, highlight the effectiveness of our training system and the continuity between generations.”
