A conversation with a student of the Faculty of Sports Activities and Arts of Samarkand State University, winner of the Youth and Youth World and Asian Weightlifting Championships Khodjiakbar Olimov…

    - How did you get into the sport and what is the reason for choosing weightlifting?

    - Since childhood, I had a high interest in sports. I have always looked at athletes with envy. When I was 8 years old, my grandmother led me into the hall by the hand. At first I practiced Mua Thai for a year. For a certain reason, this hall has ended its activities. Later, I started going to gyms with friends as an amateur. Those who lifted weights got tired of sprinting. The most interesting thing is that we did not even have a coach on this issue. In the hall, our older brothers taught us different methods in their own way. So I started to get involved in weightlifting.

    Since I was able to build my future in this sport, I first tried to train under the guidance of coach Elmurad Erkaev.

    - Do you remember your first victory and what impression did it make on you?

    - Of course, I was about 10 years old. I won a bronze medal at the championship of Uzbekistan. I competed in the 38kg weight class and did a 30kg deadlift and a 45kg deadlift. Then I was once again glad that I chose this sport. But my grandmother was more happy than me, she could not hold back her tears of joy when she heard that I took third place. It was a big win for me. After this victory, classmates and teachers at school began to look at me with envy. After that, our competitions continued, I participated in the championships of the region and the country and always tried to return with a medal.

    - You are a member of the national team of Uzbekistan. What are the entry requirements and when were you accepted?

    - I joined the national team of Uzbekistan in 2017. In fact, not everyone is accepted into the national team of Uzbekistan. There are certain requirements for this. Based on these requirements, that is, I was accepted, because I won the championship of Uzbekistan several times and have the status of a master of sports.

    - What is your biggest victory in sports? Tell us about your participation in the World and Asian Championships?

    - As I said above, the first competition was the biggest victory for me, that is, I took third place in the Championship of Uzbekistan. Because this competition paved the way for my future career. It made me set big goals for myself and pushed me to become stronger.

    In addition, in 2019, I took part in the Asian Championships in North Korea in the 67 kg weight category, where I won a bronze medal with a result of 125 kg in deadlift and 154 kg in deadlift. I participated in the 81 kg weight category at the 2020 World Championships in Tashkent, performed a 150 kg deadlift, 180 kg deadlift and won a bronze medal. In 2021, I won a silver medal at the Asian Games held in our capital. This year at the World Championships held in Heraklon, Greece, I recorded a result of 188 kg in the 89 kg weight category and added a silver medal to my list of victories. In addition, I recently won a gold and two silver medals at the Asian Games held in Tashkent...

    - How many kg of bar did you lift at the championships?

    - I recorded a result of 149 kg at the World Championships in Heraklon, Greece, and 192 kg at the recently held Asian Championships in Tashkent. These are my highest results in competitions.

    - What is your personal record in training?

    - In training, I fixed 155 kg in the deadlift and 195 kg in the deadlift.

    - It seems that there is a slight difference between your records in training and the championship, how do you explain this?

    - I made it my motto the saying that the harder it is in training, the easier it is in battle. Before each championship there are preparatory processes. Athletes are always injured. You will face difficulties and various injuries in training every day. Sometimes you have to go to competitions with injuries. For this reason, it is natural that there is a difference between training scores and competition scores. Then we try to get out of the situation at the competitions, in many cases we take a big risk.

    - Why did you choose Samarkand State University for study and what are your impressions of this educational institution?

    - Studying at Samarkand State University was my dream. Of course, I did. I am lucky to be a student in 2020. I consider SamSU the largest and oldest educational center in Central Asia and throughout Asia. The atmosphere here is very good. In addition to theoretical and practical knowledge, I also study human science. I have always been pleased with the attention to young people and the conditions created. They always support us when we compete. In a way, I am motivated by this. For this I would like to thank Rustam Khаlmurаdov, rector of SamSU, professor, member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis. Samarkand State University is very valuable to me and I am proud to study here.

    - What are your plans for the future?

    - I intend to carry out great plans to achieve a great goal. I want to win the world championship. I want to raise the honor of our country by taking part in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA, just like my champion brothers Ruslan Nuriddinov and Akbar Dzhoraev. I also intend to break world and Olympic records.

    - How long will the sport last for you?

    - Sport has become my life, without it I can not imagine myself. Someday my sports career may end, but sport will not end for me. I will always continue to live with the sport.

    - What is valuable to you in life?

    - In life, the most valuable thing for me is the peace of our country, my family and their happy life.

    - What are your recommendations to future champions?

    - You must live with a purpose in life, in sports you will face various difficulties and obstacles. Overcoming them is half the goal. A good coach, tireless work, the right actions, confidence, courage and, most importantly, a strong will are the main weapons of an athlete. The athlete who has them is a real champion.

 

Samarkand State University

Information Service Officer

Interviewed by Behruz SHAMSIDDINOV,

The photographs were taken by Shavkat AKRAMOV.