Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- 28 March marks a significant date - the Birthday of the Hockey Federation of Uzbekistan. It was on this day in 2018 that the FHU was registered, the main goal of which is the development of hockey in Uzbekistan. In September 2019, FHU became a member of the International Hockey Federation - IIHF.

The main tasks of the Federation:
• Development of children’s and youth hockey schools;
• Representation of national teams of Uzbekistan in international competitions;
• Conducting international hockey tournaments;
• Improving the level of training of athletes and coaches.

At the moment, there are four children’s and youth ice hockey schools operating in Uzbekistan. Three of them are located in Tashkent - “Humo”, “Binokor” and “Snow Leopard”. Another school educates young hockey players in Samarkand. It’s called "Sherdor". In total, more than four hundred children and teenagers in Uzbekistan are now involved in hockey.

With the support of the FHU, on the basis of the Humo Hockey Club, a project is being implemented to create a complete sports vertical - from initial training groups to a team of masters and the national team of the country. A training program for hockey players was developed specifically for the implementation of this project, with the involvement of foreign hockey specialists, including the formation of a coaching staff consisting of 6 Russians, 2 Kazakhs and 2 Uzbeks.

The hockey club “Humo” has already spent three seasons in professional leagues. In the first season 2019/2020 in the Russian Major Hockey League, it took 8th place out of 34 teams, setting an attendance record of 7267 spectators. In the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons in the Kazakhstan Pro Hokei Ligasy, they took second place in the regular championship and second and fifth place at the end of the season, respectively. In August 2023, Humo won the first official trophy in history - the Kazakhstan Cup was won. As each season progressed, the record for attendance at home matches was updated - 7373 and 7684 spectators, respectively.

Our country holds its own domestic championship. Last season, four teams took part in the Uzbekistan championship, and the Tashkent Phoenix became the champion. This 2023/2024 season, six teams from Tashkent and Samarkand are participating in the championship; at the moment, the leader of the standings is Binokor.

A school of referees operates on the basis of the Hockey Federation of Uzbekistan. More than 20 people became graduates of this school. There are also serious successes. Three referees have received qualifications from the International Ice Hockey Federation. Donish Sadullaev, David Prokofiev and Sergey Ermakov are already officiating at international competitions.

The national team of Uzbekistan, consisting of players born in 2006-2007, won gold medals at the second Winter International Children of Asia Games, held in the Russian Federation, in Kuzbass.

In March 2023, the junior national team of Uzbekistan, entirely consisting of natives of Uzbekistan, for the first time accepted the systematic work of the Federation over these six years, which is producing results. Two youth teams of the Republic 15U and 17U take part in the Republican Championships of Kazakhstan. In January 2023, the amateur team of Uzbekistan won the Kazan Hockey Cup in the Islamic Countries tournament held in Kazan. In February 2023, she participated in the Asian and Oceanian Championships among boys under 18 years old, held under the auspices of the IIHF in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, and won gold medals, beating the national teams of Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Thailand, the UAE and Iran.

On this day, it must be said that from 23 April to 30 April, 2024, it is Uzbekistan, and in particular Tashkent and Samarkand, that will host the Asian and Oceanian Championship for hockey players under 18 years of age. This year, 10 junior teams from their countries will play in the championship. For our Federation to host a tournament of this level is a great honor and a great challenge. We invite all residents of Uzbekistan to attend the matches of a major International tournament and cheer for our team, which will defend the title of Champion.