A youth ranking tournament in tennis has opened in Bishkek, attended by a correspondent from VB.KG. This event gathered young athletes not only from the capital but also from other regions, as well as guests from abroad. This tournament has become part of a system that will result in the formation of a national player ranking.
The Director of the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazybek Moldazhiyev, shared his thoughts on the significance of this tournament with our publication.
“This event is truly a festive occasion. For many years of independent development of Kyrgyzstan, tournaments of this level have been held very rarely. We plan to increase the frequency of such competitions, up to quarterly tournaments,” he noted.
Moldazhiyev expressed gratitude to the leadership of the federation and the president of the Tennis Federation, Nelly Buyuklyanova. “Despite the fact that only a month has passed since her election, active steps and initiatives to hold tournaments of this level are already visible. The state will always support such initiatives,” he added.
He also noted that the large number of participants indicates a growing interest among youth in tennis and a healthy lifestyle. “I am confident that we need to develop sports infrastructure and provide youth with choices,” the official emphasized.
In his opinion, it is important for children to have the opportunity to try different sports, such as tennis or martial arts. “Everyone will find something they like and continue to engage in it. Our task is to provide the right approach and support,” he added.
Moldazhiyev also urged parents to actively support their children in their desire to lead an active lifestyle, which will help achieve significant results on the international stage.
The results of the tournament will form the basis for ranking each participant. Currently, the agency is in the process of digitizing the system. After several tournaments, a national team of Kyrgyzstan will be formed, for which the state will provide flights and accommodation for participation in international competitions, world championships, and continental tournaments. “This is an excellent practice and a powerful signal,” he noted.
It is also important to cover such events, as they can attract new youth to this sport.
The tournament features athletes not only from Bishkek but also from all regions of the country, as well as from Kazakhstan. “I constantly tell the federations about the need to hold tournaments not only in the capital. We will also go to the regions ourselves. For example, recently a high-level judo championship took place in Osh, which gave local athletes a chance to showcase their skills,” Moldazhiyev noted.
As for the future of tennis, he considers it promising. “Tennis is an elite sport that appeals to both youth and adults. I have personally observed how actively older generations engage in tennis. And I want to emphasize again how nice it is to see such a large number of participants. This speaks to a bright future for tennis in our country,” Moldazhiyev concluded.
