DUSHANBE, May 3, 2010, Asia-Plus — Republican Judo Championships took place in Dushanbe from April 30 to May 2.
“Athletes from Dushanbe won all gold medals finishing first in all weight categories,” Farid Solehov, Secretary General of the Association of Sports Journalists of Tajikistan, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
Janshed Khalilov became champion of the republic in -60 kg category, Shuhrat Fakhrizoda became champion in -66 kg category, Siadjamol Saidov finished first in -73 kg category, and Farhod Rahimov became champion in -81 kg category. The Dushanbe judokas won competitions in heavy weight categories as well: Sherali Bozorov became champion in -90 kg category; Muhammad Abdurahmonov in -100 kg category; and Shavkat Iqbolov became champion in -100kg+ category.
Six teams from Dushanbe participated in the competition, while Khatlon and Sukhd provinces as well as Gorno Badakhshan and districts subordinate to the center were represented by two teams each.
The competition was held with support from the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) section of U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.
We will recall that the competition followed a one-day seminar focused on how sports journalism can discourage drug use and trafficking. The seminar, titled “Sports against Narcotics and Drug Trafficking,” conducted by the Association of Sports Journalists of Tajikistan, in conjunction with the Tajik Judo Federation, was sponsored by the INL section of the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe. During the seminar, twenty sports journalists from print, television, radio and other media agencies discussed ways to report on the relationship between sports and healthy life styles.
The judo competition included anti-drug messages aimed at young athletes and their fans. After the judo competition, competitors and coaches will return to their home towns and talk to young people about their sports achievements and the dangers of drugs, and will stress the incompatibility of reaching your dreams while using drugs. The participants from Dushanbe, Khorog, Qurghon Teppa, Kulob and Khujand will lead discussions about the dangers of drug use at the U.S. Embassy’s American Corners in those cities.
The United States Government is committed to continuing its support to combat drug trafficking efforts through drug demand reduction programs. The INL section of the U.S. Embassy has cooperated with Tajikistan”s law enforcement agencies since 1992 in implementing assistance projects totaling more than $29 million U.S. dollars to provide border security, support rule of law, and combat drug trafficking efforts.
