Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 20 March, the next stage of the Save Aral 2022 international charity run was held in Termez. The organizers were the Athletics Federation together with the Ministry of Sports Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the support of the National Olympic Committee, JSC "Uzbekneftegaz" and the khokimiyat of Surkhandarya region.

On the eve of the spring holiday of Navruz, more than 3,000 participants from 7 to 70 years old came out to support the Save Aral 2022 sports event. The race was attended by both professional athletes and supporters of an active lifestyle from the city of Termez and surrounding areas.

The "Save Aral" races are organized in order to attract wide public attention to an important environmental problem in the Central Asian region - the drying up of the Aral Sea and the implementation of measures aimed at the economic and social development of the Aral Sea region. One of the key components of the "Save Aral" project is the popularization of the idea of mass sports, which is the basis of the nation’s health. For 3 years of holding sports events in all major cities of Uzbekistan, more than 100 thousand participants have united under the flag of "Save Aral".

Since 2022, at the initiative of the leadership of the Athletics Federation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Save Aral charity races have been included in the permanent calendar of cultural events held in the regions.

Before the start of the "Save Aral - 2022" race, representatives of the khokimiyat of Surkhandarya region made a welcoming speech. The leadership of the administration noted that for the second time Termez is included in the route of the race and the number of applications for participation from residents of the city this year has increased significantly. In addition, Surkhandarya region is a small homeland of such talented athletes as Shokhrukh Davlatov, Evgeny Fadeev, Sharofiddin Kholmirzaev, Shohsanam Khurramova, Oyzira Jurakulova, who were able to vividly prove themselves on the treadmill and won prizes at international competitions more than once.

At the same time, the distance of 3 km within the "Save Aral" is available not only for professional athletes, but is the optimal and safe distance for unprepared participants and persons with disabilities.

“The Federation of Athletics is faced with the task of not only forming a strong national team of the country, but also making sports and physical culture a popular movement among the population,” notes Kamoliddin Ruzamukhamedov, Secretary General of the Federation, “Sport is a universal platform for attracting attention and enhancing participation in such socially significant areas such as environmental protection, gender equality, protection of vulnerable populations”.

One of the winners of the Save Aral race, Evgeny Fadeev, shared in an interview that he dreams of making a single bike ride from Tashkent to Termez in order to test his strength and become a pioneer in a new sports route.

The next stage of the Save Aral race will take place in Nurota in May. The final stage of the "Save Aral - 2022" races will be held in November in Tashkent and will be timed to coincide with the Day of the adoption of the state flag of Uzbekistan.

Winners:

1. Fayzullaev Otabek (Surkhandarya) - 8:51 min.

2. Kholmirzaev Sharof (Surkhandarya) - 8:55 min.

3. Kurbankulov Abdulaziz (Surkhandarya) - 9:09 min.

1. Khurramova Shahsonam (Surkhandarya) -10:00 min.

2. Juraeva Oyzira (Surkhandarya) - 10:23 min.

3. Kholturaeva Munavar (Surkhandarya) - 10:37 min.