Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 27 March, two major sporting events took place at the Humo Arena sports and entertainment complex - the SCO half marathon and the traditional IV Tashkent International Navruz Marathon.

The large-scale event was organized by the secretariat of the cooperation organization in cooperation with the China SCO Committee for Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation (CDDC), Shanghai Management Company of the International Art Exhibition LLC, Yunnan SCO Cultural and Sports Events Company LLC and SCO Development Corporation LLC ( Zhuhai City)" with the participation from the Uzbek side of the Ministry of Sports Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, the Athletics Federation of Uzbekistan, the Khokimiyat of the city of Tashkent, the Agency for Youth Affairs of Uzbekistan and JSC "Uzbekneftegaz".

Former SCO Secretary General Vladimir Norov delivered a welcoming speech to the participants of the event. In his speech, he noted that sport makes a tangible contribution to the implementation of the key principles of the Shanghai spirit, such as mutual trust, equality, mutually beneficial partnership, respect for cultural diversity and the pursuit of common development.

Representatives of all countries of the large SCO family and partner countries of the organization took part in the sporting event. About 2,300 participants from 21 countries tried their hand at the distances of the SCO half marathon and the Navruz international marathon.

As part of the SCO half marathon program, 2 distances were offered - 3 km and 21 km 97.5 m. To participate in the Tashkent International Marathon "Navruz", it was necessary to overcome 10 km and 42 km 195 m. Also, a popular running relay race was held as part of the marathon - ekiden.

The Athletics Federation of the Republic of Uzbekistan has done a lot of work in preparation for the event for several months. About 80 experienced judges and coaches, as well as 230 volunteers were involved. The route for the SCO half marathon - 2022 has been certified by an authoritative international organization (AIMS).

Eminent athletes from neighboring countries arrived in Uzbekistan to participate in the largest sporting event.

Multiple Asian kickboxing champion in section K-1, one of the famous Kholov sisters, Tajik athlete Fatima Kholova tried herself in running at a distance of 10 km as part of the Tashkent International Marathon Navruz.

“For me, this is the first experience in everything: for the first time I am in Tashkent and for the first time I participate in a new format of a sporting event - when you are not in the ring, but one on one with yourself and with everyone at the same time,” Fatima noted, “Our guys from the TJK Run Club. They both helped and suggested how to run correctly and how to distribute their forces. For me, participation in the marathon was a good preparation for the upcoming kickboxing championship, but I would like to pay more attention to running in the future.”

Members of popular running clubs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan arrived in Tashkent in large and small groups to participate in the SCO half marathon and the Navruz international marathon.

“I am a member of the Shymkent Run Club school of runners,” said Nurzhalgas Durmanov, a participant in the SCO half marathon, “We have a friendly team of like-minded people. We regularly gather in a group of 30-50 people in the Shymkent dendrological park and work out in the fresh air. I myself am from Turkestan, but I come to Chimkent with pleasure and run with the guys. This is our big sports family. We love to travel usefully and participate in various competitions. For example, our guys are participating in the Istanbul Marathon these days, and we are in Tashkent. The preparation of the organizers is at a high level, the track is very good, I ran 21 km in one breath and I am very pleased with the result. In addition to participating in the marathon, it is nice to look at Tashkent and how the city has been changing lately.”

The SCO half marathon and the Navruz international marathon united participants with disabilities on the same sports track. As part of the social project “Biz Birgamiz!” (“We are together!”) The event was attended by about 100 participants with hearing and vision impairments, as well as limited mobility. Each participant brightly and worthily performed in the declared categories of 3 km, 10 km and 21 km.

The winner of the SCO half marathon, Nursultan Keneshbekov from Kyrgyzstan, who covered the distance of 21 km in 1 hour 4 minutes 28 seconds, shared in an interview that the first place was an unexpected result for him.

“Just a week ago, I participated in the World Championship and ran a distance of 3,000 meters, and this is a big difference compared to the half marathon distance,” Nursultan noted, “and today I am very happy with the victory at the SCO Tashkent Half Marathon. The organizers were able to create the most comfortable conditions for the runners, and this also helped a lot.”

The organizers of the event in a solemn atmosphere handed over cash checks and memorable gifts to all the winners. The total prize fund for the winners of the SCO half marathon amounted to 138 million soums.

Each participant of the SCO half marathon and the Navruz international marathon received a commemorative medal, having joined the large SCO sports family.

Winners of the SCO half marathon and the IV Tashkent International Marathon "Navruz":

Women’s 3,000m Open Run

(SCO half marathon):

1. Shohsanam Khurramova, Uzbekistan, result - 10:19;

2. Oyzira Juraeva, Uzbekistan, result - 10:41;

3. Daria Antropova, Uzbekistan, result - 10:50;

Men’s 3,000m Open Run

(SCO half marathon):

1. Khasan Mirsaatov, Uzbekistan, result - 9:08;

2. Victor Tsurenko, Uzbekistan, result - 9:16;

3. Diyorbek Akhmedov, Uzbekistan, result - 9:18;

Running at a distance of 21 km 095 m in the open category among women

(SCO half marathon):

1st place - Aziza Mirzaakbarova, Uzbekistan, result - 1:15:20;

2nd place - Maria Korobitskaya, Kyrgyzstan, result - 1:16:47;

3rd place - Sitora Kurabanova, Uzbekistan, result - 1:24:43;

4th place - Mokhinabonu Kamilov, Uzbekistan, result - 1:25:29;

5th place - Rajamboh Abdulloeva, Tajikistan, result - 1:29:53;

6th place - Zulhija Gafforzoda, Tajikistan, result - 1:31:00.

Running at a distance of 21 km 095 m in the open category among men (SCO half marathon): 

1st place - Nursultan Keneshbekov, Kyrgyzstan, result - 1:04:28;

2nd place - Shohruh Davlatov, Uzbekistan, result -1:04:40;

3rd place - Otabek Toshkuvatov, Uzbekistan, result - 1:07:58;

4th place - Otabek Toshkuvatov, Uzbekistan, result - 1:07:53;

5th place - Oybek Mamatkomilov, Uzbekistan, result - 1:08:26;

6th place - Evgeny Fadeev, Uzbekistan, result - 1:08:42.

Running at a distance of 42 km 195 m in the open category among women:

1st place - Gulshatoy Sattarova, Kyrgyzstan, result - 2:23.50;

2nd place - Ekaterina Tunguskova, Uzbekistan, result - 2:39:28;

3rd place - Tamila Kuchkarova, Uzbekistan, result - 3:11:23;

4th place - Allayarova Dilfuza, Uzbekistan, result - 3:15:48;

5th place - Maksudova Malika, Uzbekistan result - 3:29:51;

6th place - Natalya Pyataeva, Uzbekistan, result - 3:46:39.

Running at a distance of 42 km 195 m in the open category among men:

1st place - Ilya Tyapkin, Kyrgyzstan, result - 2:21:42;

2nd place - Zakrillo Mamatkulov, Uzbekistan, result - 2:22:05;

3rd place - Vladislav Mamadov, Uzbekistan, result - 2:23:18;

4th place - Bakhtiyor Utkirov, Uzbekistan, result - 2:24:29;

5th place - Doniyor Kurbonoliyev, Uzbekistan, result - 2:34:26;

6th place - Shahboz Tursunov, Uzbekistan, result - 2:54:39.

Ekiden relay winners:

Team of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan, result -2:29:25