Shohrukh Nazarov to receive 150,000 somoni for historic Asian Para Games silver

Tajik para-judoka Shohrukh Nazarov will receive a cash prize of 150,000 somoni after winning the country’s first-ever medal at the Summer Asian Para Games. The award was announced by Ismoil Mahmadzoir, head of the Tajikistan Judo Federation. The 33-year-old athlete won silver in the men’s J1 para-judo competition in the 81 kg category at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan. Nazarov reached the final after winning three bouts on October 20 at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall. He defeated China’s Zhou Zhiwei by ippon in the round of 16, Kazakhstan’s Yergali Shamey by waza-ari in the quarter-final, and Kazakhstan’s Baurzhan Arstanbekov by ippon at 2:04 in the semi-final. In the final, Nazarov faced Uzbekistan’s Shohrukh Mamedov.

After four minutes of competition, Mamedov secured victory with a yuko, leaving the Tajik athlete with silver. Emotional moments before the final A video published ahead of the final showed Nazarov speaking with his family. The emotional exchange included tears of joy, words of encouragement and a parental blessing before the decisive bout. The medal marked a milestone for Tajikistan, whose athletes had competed at four previous Summer Asian Para Games — Guangzhou in 2010, Incheon in 2014, Jakarta in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2022 — without winning a medal. Nazarov’s achievement came shortly after Tajik judokas also won four medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya. Jahongir Majidov took silver, while Muhiddin Asadulloyev, Abubakr Sherov and Ahliya Muminova won bronze. Nazarov’s silver added another podium finish for Tajikistan’s judo team in Japan, this…