DUSHANBE, 03.02.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – Six months before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, athletes will return to competitions. Over the past few weeks, competitions in 25 Olympic sports have been organized and 10 international federations have resumed the selection process.

Athletes have already received 61% of the passes to the Olympic Games, 25% will be distributed during the next qualifications which will last until June 29, and the last 14% will be distributed based on the rankings of selected international federations following the qualifying round.

Since the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the rules of the selection system have been revised and approved last year by the selection committee. Five sports and locations have already gone through the qualifying round.

On January 11-14 the International Judo Masters tournament was held in Qatar, which was attended by 398 athletes from 69 countries. Tajikistan was represented by three athletes Somon Mahmadbekov, Behruz Khojazoda and Temur Rahimov, as a result of which Temur Rahimov took fifth place in the weight category of up to 100 kg.

On January 17, the qualifying competition in water polo among women was held in Italian Trieste, in which the Hungarian and the Dutch teams qualified for the Olympic Games.

The qualifying events will continue in accordance with health authority recommendations.

Along with the qualifiers, international competitions in 25 Olympic sports are currently being held or planned for the next few weeks. Competitions are resumed not only for summer sports. In connection with the celebration of February 4 Year to Beijing 2022, winter sports competitions have also resumed. The Olympic qualifying competitions in 11 sports from 15 Olympic disciplines have been started. Today, 17% of passes have been distributed among athletes.

Currently, two Tajik athletes Bahodur Usmonov and Shabbos Nematulloev have received their passes to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in boxing. Both athletes receive financial support from the National Olympic Committee of Tajikistan and are continuing their training.