Tajikistan wins bronze at Central Asian Badminton Championship

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (MNTV) — Tajikistan’s young shuttlers have delivered a symbolic breakthrough, winning bronze at the Central Asian Badminton Championship in Tashkent and showcasing how the country is beginning to carve a place for itself in a sport still finding recognition across the region.

According to the news outlet Asia Plus, Abbos Ghoibov and Jahongir Toshtemirov clinched the medal in the U15 boys’ doubles after a week of intense competition. Their achievement came against stronger teams from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Iran, highlighting what Tajik officials called “a new stage” in the country’s development of badminton.

The championship itself reached record size, bringing 97 athletes from seven nations, including Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia. For the first time, organizers added an under-23 category to the usual junior brackets, giving older players an opportunity to compete and broadening the platform for talent identification.

Kabir Jourayev, president of the Tajikistan Badminton Federation and a member of the Badminton Asia Development Committee, said the format shift was more than administrative. “Opening the U23 division raised the standard of the tournament and gave our athletes a stronger benchmark,” he explained.

For Tajikistan, the bronze was less about immediate glory than about momentum. Coaches view the Tashkent experience as preparation for future continental competitions, where exposure to high-level matches will be crucial. Federation officials hope the result will motivate younger athletes and attract fresh investment in facilities and training.

The Central Asian Championship, now in its third year, is evolving from a regional warm-up into a stage where countries measure sporting progress.

For Tajikistan, a nation better known internationally for boxing, football, and wrestling, the bronze medal represents both sporting diversification and the possibility of joining Asia’s wider badminton circuit.

Spectators filled 12 courts in the Uzbek capital, underscoring how badminton is slowly carving space in Central Asia’s crowded sporting culture.

With rising participation and visible achievements, Tajik officials believe the game can inspire a new generation and broaden the country’s sporting identity beyond its traditional strengths.