Sport in Uzbekistan

Sport in Uzbekistan
There are two traditions ‒ indigenous and international ‒ that exist side by side and are followed with equal passion by their fans. The most famous local sport is kurash, a form of wrestling which has a history that stretches back over millennia. International sports, such as football, basketball, ice hockey and gymnastics became popular in the twentieth century. International-style boxing and wrestling also attracted a considerable following, as did Asian martial arts such as judo, karate and taekwondo. A number of Uzbek champions played in top Soviet teams, competing in the Olympic Games and other prestigious events under the Soviet flag. Since Independence, impressive local and national teams have emerged in all the major branches of sport.
Several Uzbek teams are now rated in international league tables. Individual players, too, have established reputations outside their own country. Sport receives considerable official backing, as evidenced by the widespread provision of training facilities. There is also a good organisational infrastructure, with special attention paid to youth activities. Participation in regional leagues and international competitions is encouraged. National federations and associations, affiliated to international bodies, have been formed for all the main sports. The National Olympic Committee was created in 1992, and in 1994 Uzbek national teams began to participate in the Olympic Games. They have been particularly successful in the Summer Games, winning a total of 31 medals to date (including four Gold Medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016). They excel in contests of strength, especially boxing, wrestling and weightlifting.
The enthusiasm with which the population follows the triumphs and disappointments of their sporting heroes is part of the national culture. It is also a form of outreach, of connectivity to the global community ‒ very different from the isolation of the Soviet period. Nowadays foreign teams and foreign stars are ‘adopted’ and their careers are pored over with almost as much devotion as are those of national players. Visitors from Britain, for example, will soon discover that the fortunes of teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal (part owned by Uzbek-born Alisher Usmanov since 2007) are subject to as much critical scrutiny here as they are back home ‒ and ardent Uzbek supporters are as eager as British counterparts to acquire the insignia of their chosen club. These international sporting links, whether formal or informal, create bridges between peoples, raising awareness and knowledge of foreign countries and cultures. ‘Familiar strangers’ become friends and partners ‒ members of a notional community.

Football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan. There are 16 professional teams in the Premier League, 18 in the First League and more in the Second League. The oldest and most celebrated is Pakhtakor (‘The Cotton Pickers’). Founded in 1956, it achieved fame as one of the best Soviet teams. It remains a top team and has become something of a national treasure, affectionately commemorated in popular songs. Two other favourites are Lokomotiv ‘Locomotive’ (founded in 2002, owned and sponsored by Uzbekistan Railways) and Bunyodkor ‘Creator’ (founded in 2005). The Uzbekistan Football Federation (founded in 1946) oversees the national league system and associated championships. In 1994 it joined FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and the Asian Football Confederation.
In recent years the main teams have participated regularly in international matches and have started to attract well-known players and coaches from abroad. Likewise, Uzbeks players are being courted by prestigious foreign teams. Uzbek football has won an enviable reputation for good sportsmanship. In 2012, the Uzbekistan Football Federation received the highest AFC rating for ‘Fair Play’; in January 2013, it was presented with the FIFA ‘Fair Play’ Award. Individuals, too, are well regarded. The internationally respected referee Ravshan Irmatov (b. 1977) has worked with FIFA since 2003; he has been named ‘Best Referee of the Year’ in Asia several years running. In 2010, he refereed the opening match of the FIFA World Cup (between South Africa and Mexico).
Football in Uzbekistan is not a male-only preserve: the Women’s National Football championship was formed in 1996. Currently there are ten women’s teams. They compete at the domestic as well as the international level. Youth football is also thriving. Along with local clubs and teams, there are national squads for specific age-groups: Under-20 (nicknamed Oq bo’rilar ‘The White Wolves’), Under-19 and Under-18. There is a national table of rankings and awards (i.e. for ‘Best Player of the Year’, ‘Best Coach of the Year’). The youth squads come under the jurisdiction of the Uzbekistan Football Federation and are thus part of the Asian Football Confederation. They have been competing in their respective categories in AFC Championships (since 2002) and FIFA World Cups (since 2003). These matches take the young footballers to countries across Asia, giving them an extraordinary opportunity to experience at first hand other cultures and socie