Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 25 September 2022, Samarkand hosted the next stage of the Save Aral-2022 charity mass run and the Cup of the Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz JSC as part of the Open Championship of Central Asia in athletics in Samarkand. 

The sporting event was organized by the Athletics Federation of Uzbekistan and Uzbekneftegaz JSC with the support of the Ministry of Sports Development and the Khokimiyat of Samarkand region.

For the first time in Uzbekistan, mass sports and sports of high achievements met on the same platform. Residents of Samarkand and Samarkand region took part in the Save Aral-2022 sports race, held as part of the IV Open Championship of Central Asia in athletics.

The meeting place for the participants of the race was the square of the Samarkand Regional Theater of Musical Drama named after H. Alimjan. The final point was the Arena Afrasiyab stadium. The leadership of the Khokimiyat of Samarkand region noted that the sports complex, restored and prepared in accordance with world standards adopted by the International Association of World Athletics, will become one of the best sports grounds for training runners in the future.

More than two thousand participants came out to support the autumn stage of the "Save Aral" races. They were joined by talented athletes of Uzbekistan - Sharifa Davronova, Jasmine Mansurova, Dilshod Usmanova, Sukhrob Khodjaev, as well as athletes from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Thailand and Malaysia.

For three years of holding charity races, the organizers have opened athletics for the population of Uzbekistan as an interesting, spectacular and accessible sport for everyone.

Mass competitions "Save Aral" at the suggestion of the Athletics Federation were held in different formats - night races with lanterns, team races ekiden, races on the territory of the country’s unique industrial facilities, cultural, historical and natural monuments. Over 170,000 people took their first step towards sports in three years by running a distance in

3 km. In addition, the organization of environmental campaigns with the participation of runners has become a good tradition of "Save Aral", recalling the main social message of the project - attracting the attention of a wide audience to the situation around the Aral Sea crisis and the formation of environmental thinking through sports and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The leadership of the Athletics Federation of Turkmenistan highly appreciated the popularization of mass sports among the population and the younger generation through the charity sports races "Save Aral".

Federation Chairman Khaji Rakhmanov noted: “Almost all types of athletics are based on running, including jumping, walking, marathons, sprints, running program. Participation in charity marathons of non-professional runners undoubtedly brings them closer to experienced athletes. The popularity of the "Save Aral" races in Uzbekistan will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the popularity of athletics among the population and for many others will be a step towards great sport."

At the end of the race in Samarkand, the participants who showed the best results were awarded with memorable gifts and prizes. Athletes - participants of the Open Championship of Central Asia in athletics, non-professional runners and participants with disabilities were nominated separately.

Men’s winners:

1. Bobomurodov Namoz

2. Alisher Akhmatullaev

3. Nazarov Ilkhom

Women’s winners:

1.Kurbanova Zukhra

2. Ablaeva Kamola

3. Makhmaraimova Elnora

Winners - participants of the Open Championship of Central Asia in athletics:

Men:

1.Mirsaatov Khasan

2. Utkirov Bakhtiyor

3. Fadeev Evgeny

Women:

1. Khurramova Shahsonam

2.Alimova Farangiz

3. Jurakulova Orzia