President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met members of Uzbekistan's national chess and para chess teams, along with their families and coaches Tuesday, the presidential press service said.
He congratulated the men's main team on winning the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, making them two-time Olympiad champions. Uzbekistan fielded six teams at the event, three men's and three women's. The main women's team finished 13th. At the 3rd FIDE Para Chess Olympiad, Uzbekistan won its first-ever bronze medal.
Mirziyoyev said the champions, Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Muhiddin Madaminov and Shamsiddin Vokhidov, are being awarded Volkswagen Teramont Pro cars and houses.
The para chess players Ahadkhon Kimsanboev, Marsel Shayusupov, Sirojiddin Zaynidinov, Sardorbek Mamarajabov and Selbi Kakishova received Volkswagen Passat Pro cars and housing. Head coaches Rustam Kasimdzhanov of the main team and Samandar Shermukhamedov of the para team were also given cars.
The Olympiad champions will receive $200,000 each and their coaches $50,000 each. Members of the para chess team were awarded $50,000 each, and their coaches $12,500.
"A car is important, of course, but future brides need a home too," the president joked.
Under a separate decree issued earlier, the winners, medalists and coaches were granted honorary titles, orders and medals.
"These results are no accident. They reflect a school, a system, a new level for Uzbek chess," Mirziyoyev said.
He set the next goal as making Uzbekistan not only an Olympiad champion but a global center of chess. He called for early identification of talented children in every province, district and mahalla, assigning them strong mentors and ensuring they can compete regularly in international tournaments. A separate program will be created to develop women's chess and para chess.
Provincial branches of the Tashkent International Chess Academy will open in Samarkand, Khorezm and Fergana, and the academy will train top-category coaches. For players with a FIDE rating above 1,500, the state will cover half of their tuition costs at private clubs.
International tournaments will also be held regularly under the national brand Uzbekistan Grand Chess. The president proposed building a modern chess palace in New Tashkent, with a 500-seat playing hall, a residential block and sports grounds.
Stay up to date with all the latest news:
