Weekly digest: Khusanov’s rising role at Man City and Uzbekistan’s sporting successes

No Abdukodir, no celebration. Manchester City has lost two games in which Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov did not play, increasing his chances of featuring in upcoming matches.

Meanwhile, in chess, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javohir Sindorov performed well at a prestigious tournament in Germany, and an Uzbek chess player who has been representing the United States for several years has finally returned to her homeland.

State Security Service Chairman Bakhodir Kurbanov Nominated for UFA Presidency

The Chairman of the State Security Service of Uzbekistan, Bakhodir Nizomovich Kurbanov, has been nominated for the position of President of the Football Association of Uzbekistan (UFA). The UFA press service confirmed this on February 12.

According to the UFA Charter, elections for the presidency will take place on February 22, 2025. The UFA had invited its members to submit nominations by January 20, and after reviewing the applications, the Election Committee approved Kurbonov’s candidacy.

Under Article 33 of the UFA Charter, members must be informed about the Congress venue and agenda at least 10 days before the elections, which was done on February 12.

According to Article 11 of the UFA Election Code, the official candidate list must be published in the press. UFA members formally nominated Bahodir Nizomovich Kurbonov for the presidency.

President Criticizes Governors Over Sports Development

The President of Uzbekistan has expressed dissatisfaction with the governors’ lack of responsibility in fully utilizing the country’s sports potential. This was stated during a video conference on February 13, focused on preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the promotion of mass sports.

It was noted that regional governors do not engage with sports federation leaders or support athletes and trainers, often only acknowledging them after they achieve international success.

For example, Uzbek athletes won 58 medals in the Olympic sports world championships last year, yet athletes from Navoi, Surkhandarya, and Kashkadarya failed to win any medals. Similarly, the fewest Olympic and Paralympic licenses for Paris 2024 were obtained from Navoi and Karakalpakstan.

The President emphasized the need to restructure the sports system, improve athlete selection, and increase support for talented athletes and coaches. Officials will now be evaluated based on their efforts in promoting fairness, athlete well-being, and digitalizing the sports industry.

Uzbekistan Wins First Medal at 9th Asian Winter Games

After a 26-year hiatus, Uzbekistan has won a gold medal at the Asian Winter Games, as confirmed by the Ministry of Sports.

Figure skaters Dmitry Chigirey and Ekaterina Geinish secured 176.43 points, claiming first place.

Additionally, Uzbek figure skaters Niginabonu Jamoliddinova and Sevinch Rahimova made their Asian Winter Games debut. In the short program, Jamoliddinova scored 27.88 points, while Rahimova scored 18.09. They are set to perform their free program tomorrow.

Uzbekistan's Amputee Football Team Wins Asian Championship

Uzbekistan’s amputee football team triumphed at the Asian Championship in Bangladesh, defeating Indonesia 6-0 in the final match on February 12.

Earlier in the group stage, Uzbekistan had also beaten Indonesia 8-1, along with victories over Nepal (13-0), Bangladesh (3-0), and Iraq (3-0).

For reference, the Uzbekistan amputee football team is also a five-time world champion.

Khusanov Named in FA Cup Best XI

Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov has been included in the official team of the FA Cup 1/16 finals, as reported by Sofascore.

Khusanov received a 7.8 rating, joining notable Premier League players like Morgan Rogers, Dejan Kulusevski, and Joe Willock. The highest rating was given to Ipswich player Joe Clark (9.8 points).

On February 8, in the 56th minute of the FA Cup 1/16 finals match between Leyton Orient and Manchester City, Khusanov came on as a substitute and scored a goal to equalize the match.

Khusanov has now played two matches for Manchester City, scoring one goal. His contract with the club runs until 2029.

Sindorov and Abdusattorov Shine at Prestigious Chess Tournament

The Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tournament, held in Weissenhaus, Germany, concluded with strong performances by Javohir Sindorov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

With a $750,000 prize pool, Sindorov finished 4th, earning $60,000, while Abdusattorov placed 6th, winning $40,000.

Sindorov notably defeated chess legend Magnus Carlsen in the early rounds but later lost to Fabiano Caruana in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Carlsen took revenge, pushing Sindorov to 4th place.

Abdusattorov competed for 5th place, defeating Alireza Firouzja but ultimately losing to Hikaru Nakamura in the final round.

The tournament’s winner was Vincent Keymer, who defeated Fabiano Caruana in the final and took home $200,000.

Gulruhbegim Tokhirjonova Returns to Uzbekistan Chess Federation

Uzbek chess grandmaster Gulruhbegim Tokhirjonova, who has been playing for the United States national team since 2021, has decided to return to the Uzbekistan Chess Federation. The “UzChess” project press service confirmed her decision.

"International Master Gulruhbegim Tohirjonova has returned from the US Federation. The decision of our athlete, who obtained the Woman Grandmaster title in 2016 and became an International Master in 2024, will strengthen Uzbek chess on the world stage," the report states. 

Tokhirjonova was named Best Female Chess Player in America (2023) but had previously left the Uzbekistan team due to conflicts with the Uzbekistan Chess Federation.

In December 2022, she represented the United States at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where she defeated her sister Nafisa Muminova under the US flag.

Now, she will once again compete for Uzbekistan on the international chess stage.