Tashkent, Uzbekistan, August 13, 2024: The National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan celebrated the country’s best performance at the Olympics Games and thanked Paris for “unforgettable memories” as the sports delegation returned home to Tashkent to a joyous welcome on Monday night, August 12.
A specially chartered flight from Paris carrying the Uzbekistan delegation arrived to a water cannon welcome on the tarmac at Tashkent Airport before being taken on three open buses to the Headquarters of the Uzbekistan NOC where an official reception was held.
“We finished with the best result in our history at the Olympics,” the NOC stated. “Our victorious athletes won eight gold medals, two silver and three bronze medals and became the heroes of New Uzbekistan.
“With this result, our delegation took 13th place among 206 countries, and we finished fourth in Asia,” the NOC added.
China, Japan and Korea finished ahead of Uzbekistan in the medal standings.
Uzbekistan finished 32nd at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics winning three gold and two bronze medals.
For the first time, a female athlete won an Olympic gold medal – judoka Diyora Keldiyorova emerging as champion in the women’s -52kg category.
Soon after her victory, Keldiyorova was quoted by the Tashkent Times as saying “To change the life of women in Uzbekistan is my mission.”
Uzbekistan’s powerful boxing team led the gold medal rush winning five gold medals with the other gold medals coming in taekwondo and wrestling.
The NOC stated: “We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Head of State of our government who has created all the conditions conducive for our delegation during the Games. We also thank all our compatriots and fans who have supported us.”