The prestigious Judo Grand Slam tournament has kicked off in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. The first day of this competition, which features the world's strongest judokas, began with a joyful outcome for the Uzbekistan national team.
Representing our country in the first day's bouts, Azizbek Ortiqov achieved a high-level result in the -66 kg weight category, securing a silver medal. It is noteworthy that his path was not easy, as he faced serious opponents in every match.
Ortiqov began the tournament confidently. In the qualifying rounds, he defeated representatives from Kyrgyzstan and France to advance to the next stage. In the semifinals, he faced an even stronger opponent — the 2021 world champion, Yago Abuladze of Russia — and successfully fought and defeated him as well.
In the final match, our representative competed against Nurali Emomali, a finalist at last year's world championships representing the host nation. Despite a tough and intense struggle, Ortiqov was unable to secure victory this time and concluded the tournament with a silver medal.
Thus, the Uzbekistan team began the Grand Slam tournament with a medal on the very first day, starting their participation on a high note. This result once again demonstrates the potential and competitiveness of our country's judokas on the international stage.
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