Uzbekistan opens weightlifting school to mark International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

The National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan marked International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6 with the opening of the Akbar Djuraev Weightlifting School, a state-of-the-art training facility for young weightlifters in Tashkent. 

The facility is named in honour of Akbar Djuraev, who made history as Uzbekistan’s second Olympic weightlifting champion, securing gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games with an Olympic record total of 430kg. The school will serve as a major hub for future generations, aiming to unite young athletes and further expand weightlifting’s reach in Central Asia.  

“We are very proud to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace with the opening of this state-of-the-art facility,” said Otabek Umarov, First Deputy Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan and Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia. “We know very well that sport has the power to drive social change and bring communities together. I would, therefore, like to thank the Ministry of Sport, Trade Union and everyone involved in making this project a reality.”  

Mr Otabek Umarov delivering his speech

“I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to Uzbekistan on the opening of this fantastic new facility,” said IWF President Mohammed Jalood. “Uzbekistan has become a true powerhouse in our sport and the Akbar Djuraev Weightlifting School – honouring one of the brightest Stars at world and Olympic level – is a testament to their dedication. This school provides a vital opportunity to continue the development of weightlifting not only in Uzbekistan but across all of Central Asia, ensuring a bright future for the next generation of young lifters.”

This journey toward excellence was sparked by Ruslan Nurudinov’s historic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which inspired thousands of young lifters and catalysed significant infrastructure development throughout Uzbekistan. This momentum has not only elevated Uzbek lifters, coaches and officials to a world-class level, but has also established the country as an elite destination for major events.  

Akbar Djuraev competing at the 2025 IWF Worlds

Building on this legacy, Uzbekistan has successfully hosted the 2021 IWF World Championships and Electoral Congress, the 2021 IWF Junior World Championships, the 2013 IWF Youth World Championships and multiple Asian Championships. This proven track record recently led the IWF to award Uzbekistan the prestigious opportunity to host one of the five IWF Qualifiers for the 2028 LA Olympic Games.