The Uzbekistan Open Water Swimming Championship was held from August 10 to 14 at the Water & Rowing sports facility in Tashmore, with more than 40 athletes taking part.

For the first time in the history of the competition, athletes from Kyrgyzstan participated. The team included 12-year-old Alana Aidaralieva, 15-year-old Aylin Salieva and 14-year-old Anelia Shakirova.

Tilek Talaibekov prepared and supported the team.

The championship program included 10-kilometer, 7.5-kilometer and 5-kilometer races, as well as a 4×500-meter relay. The Kyrgyz athletes competed in the 5-kilometer race and achieved the following results:

Alana Aidaralieva — 3rd place among juniors;

Aylin Salieva — 5th place among juniors;

Anelia Shakirova — 8th place among juniors.

The Kyrgyz swimmers also took part in the Uzbekistan Open Water Challenge, a 2.5-kilometer mass open-water swim for swimming enthusiasts.

The coach said the participation of Kyrgyz athletes was an important event for the development of open-water swimming and for strengthening sporting ties between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

According to him, the competition gave the young athletes an opportunity to gain international experience, test themselves in open water and represent Kyrgyzstan with distinction.