Narzullo Latipov: Sports in Tajikistan Need a separate system of governance
Narzullo Latipov, Chairman of the Association of Sports Journalists of Tajikistan, has called for reforming the country’s system of governance in physical culture and sports. He shared his views in an interview with Asia-Plus while summing up the performances of Tajik athletes in 2025.
According to Latipov, Tajik athletes took part in several major international competitions last year and achieved notable results. In particular, they won a total of five medals at the World Championships in judo and boxing — one of the strongest seasonal performances in the country’s recent sporting history.
At the World Judo Championships held in Budapest in June, Tajik athletes claimed three medals. Emomali Nourali won silver in the under-66 kg category, while Obid Jebov (under 66 kg) and Temur Rahimov (over 100 kg) earned bronze medals.
Two more medals were secured at the Men’s World Boxing Championships held in Dubai in December 2025. Khusravkhon Rahimov won silver in the under-57 kg category, while Akmal Ubaidov claimed bronze in the under-60 kg division.
At the same time, Latipov noted that over the past 30 years no Tajik athlete has won a gold medal at a World Championship in Olympic sports. The last such achievement dates back to 1995, when hammer thrower Andrey Abduvaliyev became world champion in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Against this backdrop, Latipov put forward several proposals aimed at developing sports in the country.
First, he suggested revising the current system of state governance in the sector, arguing that the transformation of the former Committee for Physical Culture and Sports into the Committee for Youth and Sports Affairs had negatively affected efficiency, particularly at the city and district levels. In his view, sports require a dedicated and independent governing body.
Second, Latipov proposed restoring the previous format of the Council for Physical Culture and Sports, which was once chaired by the Prime Minister of Tajikistan. He emphasized that the council should include heads of key ministries and agencies, as well as regional leaders.
Third, he suggested establishing a department or division for physical culture and sports within the central office of the Ministry of Education and Science. He also called for returning some youth sports schools and the Tajik Institute of Physical Culture to the ministry’s jurisdiction.
Finally, addressing preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Latipov proposed developing a dedicated state program, ensuring sufficient funding through both budgetary and sponsorship sources, and creating a national Olympic training center as soon as possible.
Latipov has raised the issue of separating sports from youth policy before. In 2016, he argued that combining sports with youth affairs and tourism had lowered the sector’s status and weakened governance. Tourism was later separated into an independent structure.
According to Latipov, Tajik athletes took part in several major international competitions last year and achieved notable results. In particular, they won a total of five medals at the World Championships in judo and boxing — one of the strongest seasonal performances in the country’s recent sporting history.
At the World Judo Championships held in Budapest in June, Tajik athletes claimed three medals. Emomali Nourali won silver in the under-66 kg category, while Obid Jebov (under 66 kg) and Temur Rahimov (over 100 kg) earned bronze medals.
Two more medals were secured at the Men’s World Boxing Championships held in Dubai in December 2025. Khusravkhon Rahimov won silver in the under-57 kg category, while Akmal Ubaidov claimed bronze in the under-60 kg division.
At the same time, Latipov noted that over the past 30 years no Tajik athlete has won a gold medal at a World Championship in Olympic sports. The last such achievement dates back to 1995, when hammer thrower Andrey Abduvaliyev became world champion in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Against this backdrop, Latipov put forward several proposals aimed at developing sports in the country.
First, he suggested revising the current system of state governance in the sector, arguing that the transformation of the former Committee for Physical Culture and Sports into the Committee for Youth and Sports Affairs had negatively affected efficiency, particularly at the city and district levels. In his view, sports require a dedicated and independent governing body.
Second, Latipov proposed restoring the previous format of the Council for Physical Culture and Sports, which was once chaired by the Prime Minister of Tajikistan. He emphasized that the council should include heads of key ministries and agencies, as well as regional leaders.
Third, he suggested establishing a department or division for physical culture and sports within the central office of the Ministry of Education and Science. He also called for returning some youth sports schools and the Tajik Institute of Physical Culture to the ministry’s jurisdiction.
Finally, addressing preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Latipov proposed developing a dedicated state program, ensuring sufficient funding through both budgetary and sponsorship sources, and creating a national Olympic training center as soon as possible.
Latipov has raised the issue of separating sports from youth policy before. In 2016, he argued that combining sports with youth affairs and tourism had lowered the sector’s status and weakened governance. Tourism was later separated into an independent structure.
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