Sport in Uzbekistan

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Over the centuries, Uzbekistan has had a tradition of fostering equestrians and wrestlers (palvans). Some of the sports that originate from this country are the kurash, a type of upright wrestling which is growing on a worldwide basis, along with belbogli kurash, turon, and boyqurgan. Other popular sports in Uzbekistan are football (soccer), boxing and sport wrestling.

Since their independence in 1991 Uzbekistan has taken part in the Olympic Games with increasing success. They have participated three times in the Summer Olympics, and collected 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 5 bronze medals in boxing, wrestling and judo respectively. Their only medal in the Winter Olympics so far came in freestyle skiing in Lilehammer 1994 when Lina Cheryazova won a gold medal in aerials.