From February 27 to March 1, Tashkent hosted a prestigious "Grand Slam" competition in judo. According to the IJF, the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam 2026 was held in Tashkent with the participation of 370 judokas from 39 countries.
This tournament is especially memorable for Uzbek judo. The greatest joy was presented by Shukurjon Aminova - she won the gold medal in the -57 kg weight category, bringing home the first gold for the hosts. The IJF described this victory as a "golden moment for the host country."
This result was not just another championship, but also Aminova's first Grand Slam gold in her career. UzDaily also noted that his victory in Tashkent was an important turning point in his international career.
Shukurjon's success has another important symbolic meaning. She was among the few Uzbek female judokas who won gold at the Grand Slam tournaments. Prior to this, Diyora Keldiyorova won the gold medal in the -52 kg weight category at the Grand Slam tournament in Baku on February 16, 2024.
In the men's competition, the last gold medal in the Grand Slam was awarded to Uzbek judokas on July 25, 2025, in Ulaanbaatar. At that time, Abdurahim Nutfulloyev became the champion in the -66 kg weight category. Thus, the victory in Tashkent restored Uzbekistan's gold chain in this category.
For information: after this victory, Shukurjon Aminova is ranked 15th in the world rankings in the -57 kg weight category on the IJF page as of March 1, 2026.
In short, this competition in Tashkent became not just an ordinary tournament, but a platform for spiritual uplift, new confidence, and historic results for Uzbek judo. Shukurjon Aminova's gold gave fans one clear signal - new bright pages are opening in Uzbek judo.
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