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In case you are in search of examples of how sport can change lives, look no additional than Uzbekistan’s Guljonoy Naimova.
The Para taekwondo champion from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Video games has used her success to tug her household out of poverty and vault herself into changing into one of many nation’s most profitable and well-known athletes.
She is now the one fighter on the earth to concurrently maintain the titles of Paralympic, world, and Para Grand Prix champion, and she or he stays Uzbekistan’s youngest Paralympic champion.
Monetary rewards from the Authorities of Uzbekistan have made her the first breadwinner within the household – a rarity for these with an impairment in Uzbekistan and a dream come true for Naimova.
However issues weren’t at all times so sunny for the Paralympic champion.
Overcoming the percentages
Naimova was born with a plexus lesion, which considerably impacts her potential to lift and lengthen her left arm.
Whereas Uzbekistan isn’t the best place for somebody with an impairment to develop up – 85% of buildings and social infrastructure nonetheless must be tailored to be used for folks with impairments – Naimova grew up in a supportive atmosphere.
Her mom, father, and two brothers didn’t make a giant deal out of it.
“It wasn’t till I began faculty that I realised I used to be not like the opposite youngsters”, she stated. “I felt disenchanted and offended”.
Issues obtained worse for Naimova earlier than they obtained higher. When her dad and mom divorced, she determined to stick with her mom. The household struggled with funds.
“As a child, I at all times dreamed of economic success, of fixing all my household’s issues and making my mom completely satisfied,” Naimova stated.
Then, at 11 years previous, she found taekwondo. Naimova was interested in the self-discipline required by the game in addition to its physicality. The one drawback? Uzbekistan had but to create a Para taekwondo programme and she or he was pressured compete with able-bodied opponents.
“I wasn’t profitable in able-bodied as a result of I could not increase my arms to dam,” she recalled.
Shifting to Para taekwondo
Naimova spent 5 years studying the game of taekwondo alongside her able-bodied teammates earlier than becoming a member of Uzbekistan’s newly created Para taekwondo staff in late 2015.
On the time, Para taekwondo was experiencing its first main interval of development. The game had simply held its sixth World Championships and had been named to the Paralympic programme in 2020.
She remembers what it was like coaching in these early days: “We didn’t come up with the money for for a coaching camp. We’d practice simply 60% of what we do now – two weeks of coaching, after which a month of relaxation”.
In 2017, when she was 17 years previous, Naimova made her debut on the worldwide circuit. She confirmed promise at her first competitors – the 2017 Asian Championships within the Republic of Korea – the place she gained silver, falling to the No. 1 ranked fighter on the earth, Nice Britain’s Amy Truesdale.
It was the start of one of many sport’s biggest rivalries.
Naimova gained medals at her subsequent two occasions – the 2017 World Championships and 2017 IWAS Video games – shedding within the semifinals each instances to Truesdale. The next 12 months, she gained her first worldwide event, changing into Asian champion by edging Truesdale in an exhilarating 9-8 closing.
Changing into the very best
The younger athlete’s success didn’t go unnoticed again house and the Uzbek Paralympic Committee responded by making a vital funding in its Para taekwondo staff. Starting in 2019, the federal government offered the staff with funding in order that they might practice with out breaks.
Naimova and her teammates engaged in an formidable seven-hours-per-day, three-days-per-week coaching programme. Trainings are intense thanks in no small half to teach Bobur Koziyev – one of the passionate and animated coaches on the circuit.
“I’ve a powerful character,” he stated. “I even get warnings from the referee.”
Naimova agreed.
“In the course of the trainings, he’s very strict,” she stated. “Whether or not it’s a Paralympic Video games champion or a newcomer, we ensure to pay attention.”
Going from 7:30 within the morning to 7:00 within the night, the staff does a full vary of actions, together with health, weight, taekwondo, and video coaching.
“I watch all of the matches of my opponents,” Naimova stated. “I do know each opponent I face.”
Decided to enhance on her bronze medal from the 2017 World Championships, Naimova entered the 2019 World Championships assured that she might beat any opponent.
She even caught a break, as defending world champion Truesdale was upset within the quarterfinal by Japan’s Shoko Ota. Naimova then cruised previous Ota 14-5 within the semifinal to qualify for her first World Championship closing.
The Uzbek fighter finally fell to Brazil’s Debora Menezes in a hard-fought 7-3 closing. It was the final time she misplaced in regulation time.
In a dramatic post-fight scene, her coach stormed out, leaving a devastated Naimova alone on the sidelines.
In what turned out to be the start of a long-lasting and unlikely friendship – neither athlete speaks the identical language – Menezes came to visit to console the silver medallist.
“She advised me that I fought properly and that I’m an incredible athlete,” Naimova stated. “We grew to become mates as a result of our characters match and we’re each type folks.”
Admitting remorse, coach Koziyev speaks brazenly about his response that day: “I like my athletes and I’m so anxious about them that I will be harsh. I see my athletes have an opportunity to medal and I get nervous when they’re about to lose.”
Life-changing Paralympic Video games
Naimova continued to enhance and in her closing event earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, she beat No. 1 ranked Truesdale 16-8 within the 2019 European Championship semifinal. She fell to Azerbaijan’s Aynur Mammadova by golden level within the closing, however not earlier than securing computerized qualification to Tokyo 2020.
The prospect of competing on the Video games throughout Para taekwondo’s Paralympic debut didn’t put further strain on Naimova.
“My mom at all times dreamed her daughter would develop into a Paralympic champion, and I did not need to let her down,” she stated.
There was additionally a possible monetary windfall.
The Uzbek authorities awards Paralympic champions the title of ‘Delight of Uzbekistan’. Additionally they obtain 200,000 USD, a brand new residence, and a brand new automotive. A Paralympic silver earns Uzbek athletes 100,000 USD, whereas bronze medallists obtain 50,000 USD.
These are life-changing sums in a rustic the place the common Uzbek makes lower than 350 USD monthly and, in keeping with the World Financial institution, solely 7.1% of the impaired inhabitants is gainfully employed.
At Tokyo 2020, Naimova was drawn on the identical aspect of the bracket as two of her most harmful opponents, hometown favorite Shoko Ota and No. 1 ranked Truesdale. A cushty 37-12 win over Ota within the quarterfinal set the stage for certainly one of Tokyo 2020’s most anticipated matchups – and one of many most unforgettable upsets.
After a tense opening 30 seconds that noticed her go down 6-4 to Truesdale, Naimova put collectively 10 straight factors earlier than closing the spherical with a shocking 22-6 lead over her perennial rival. Not letting up, Naimova simply gained the subsequent two rounds to qualify for the Paralympic closing with a press release 60-14 win.
The victory thrilled Uzbeks again house, together with president Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who promised to tune in for the Paralympic closing.
In her closing combat in Tokyo, Naimova bested reigning world champion and good friend Menezes 8-4 to develop into her division’s first-ever Paralympic champion.
Naimova returned house to be greeted by an adoring crowd at Tashkent’s Yangi Uzbekistan Park the place she additionally obtained greetings from the nation’s president, an enormous novelty cheque for 200,000 USD, and the keys to a scarlet SUV. On the finish of the ceremony, she was pushed to her new residence.
“The president personally selected the color of my automotive,” Naimova stated. “He watched the combat and stated he needed to provide me one thing to face out…It’s the one certainly one of this color within the nation.”
The monetary reward from the Uzbek authorities modified Naimova’s life.
“Earlier than, I lived solely with my mom and two brothers,” she stated. “Now I’ve my very own place, I paid for college for each of my brothers and made their lives higher.”
Changing into a legend
Naimova’s triumph in Tokyo was the start of an unparalleled streak of success. She has not dropped a combat since, occurring to win her first world title, the inaugural Para Grand Prix, and a pair of European Championships.
She collected one other 12,000 USD for her victory on the 2021 World Championships and has develop into certainly one of Uzbekistan’s most well-known and common athletes.
“I’ve over 80,000 followers on Instagram,” Naimova stated. “And now everybody in Uzbekistan is aware of me and respects me.”
It has been a protracted highway for the child who fell right into a melancholy after realising that she was totally different from her classmates. By way of sport, Naimova has discovered extra than simply success, acceptance, and monetary safety – she has discovered her place in life.
At simply 22 years previous, Naimova holds each main title on the earth and supplies monetary safety for her household. So, what’s subsequent for the Paralympic champion?
“After making my mother’s want come true, now I need to impress my coach.”
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