Tashkent, Uzbekistan, November 5, 2022: The future of Uzbek sport took a break from their daily routine to take part in the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run on Saturday, November 5.
Children from the Olympic and Paralympic Reserves College in the capital Tashkent took part in the three kilometre run to promote the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China which will be held from September 23 to October 8, 2023.
Among the milling crowd of hundreds of excited boys and girls, aged between 11 and 17 years, was Nurmukhammad Ochilov who hoped that one day he would be representing his country at the Asian Games.
“That is my dream. I watched the last Asian Games in Indonesia (2018 Jakarta and Palembang) and closely followed how my country performed. One day I hope I too can be at the Asian Games,” said the 14-year-old footballer.
The Olympic and Paralympic Reserves College is home to more than 600 students all of whom have been talent-spotted and train in one of 25 Olympic sports as well as 11 non-Olympic sports. It is the only College dedicated to sports in the capital, although there are other similar institutions throughout the country.
Uzbekistan Deputy Minister, Ministry of Sports, Shakhrillo Makhmudov who graced the occasion, said: “One day I hope many of you will go on to represent Uzbekistan at the Asian Games. Today, we are here to celebrate this event which will take place in China next year and I wish you all the best.”
OCA Head of Athletes Development Department and Special Projects, Tony Tarraf, welcoming all the children to the Fun Run, said: “We’re here to promote the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games, We’re here to promote the values and principles of sport. We’re here to run, so let’s enjoy the fun.”
At the last Asian Games, which Nurmukhammad watched, Uzbekistan finished fifth in the medal standings with a total of 69 medals including 20 golds, 24 silver and 25 bronze.
The men’s football team lost in the quarterfinals to South Korea. Perhaps at the 20th edition in Aichi-Nagoya 2026, there might be a mid-fielder by the name of Nurmukhammad in the team, fulfilling a dream that was born when his country hosted the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run.
Also attending the ceremony was Uzbekistan NOC Secretary General Oybek Kasimov, and OCA Director, Project and Administration Affairs, Wissam Trkmani. Both Tarraf and Trkmani also took part in the 3km event.
All participants received a certificate.
