President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan met with Marius Vizer, President of the International Judo Federation, during his visit to the country for the prestigious Grand Slam tournament. The visit underscored the growing cooperation between Uzbekistan and the IJF in the development of judo as a national sport and the promotion of martial arts across the country.
During the meeting, President Mirziyoyev and Marius Vizer discussed the continued expansion of collaboration in the field of judo, focusing on the enhancement of Uzbekistan’s national judo school. The two leaders emphasized the importance of further popularizing the sport within Uzbekistan and working towards strengthening the infrastructure and talent pool in the martial arts arena.
Uzbekistan has demonstrated a strong commitment to the development of judo at both the domestic and international levels. In 2022, the country hosted the World Judo Championship for seniors, a major international event, and in 2023, Uzbekistan also successfully organized the World Judo Championship for military personnel. These accomplishments have cemented Uzbekistan’s role as a key player in the global judo community.
President of the IJF, Marius Vizer meets with Uzbekistan’s officials
FOSTERNIG JUDO AMONG YOUTHS
A historic milestone for Uzbekistan came at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris when Diyora Keldiyorova won Uzbekistan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in judo. This achievement was a significant moment in the nation’s sports history and is expected to inspire further interest in judo among the Uzbek population, especially youth and girls. Marius Vizer expressed his admiration for the success of the Uzbek judo team and highlighted the importance of such achievements in fostering national pride and encouraging young people to engage in sports.
Marius Vizer praised Uzbekistan’s comprehensive reforms aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and supporting various sports across the country. He specifically noted the wide involvement of youth, particularly girls, in sports programs. The IJF president also commended the government’s efforts to create modern, accessible sports infrastructure, which is a crucial step toward making sports opportunities available to all segments of society.
The meeting also focused on expanding technical and expert support from the IJF, specifically in the areas of athlete training, coaching, and referee development. Marius Vizer highlighted the need for an effective talent identification system to ensure that young judo practitioners receive the guidance and training they need to reach their full potential. The establishment of a solid pipeline for developing future champions was seen as a key element of the strategy for sustaining Uzbekistan’s success in judo.
In a significant gesture of appreciation, President Mirziyoyev presented Marius Vizer with the “Dustlik” (Friendship) Order, one of Uzbekistan’s highest state awards. The award was given in recognition of Vizer’s outstanding personal contribution to the development of judo in Uzbekistan and his long-standing support for the sport. The collaboration between the International Judo Federation and Uzbekistan is expected to continue growing, with plans for regular international judo competitions to be held across the regions of Uzbekistan, further solidifying the nation’s position on the global sports stage.
