DUSHANBE, February 19, Asia-Plus - Chances of Tajik judo player Rasoul Boqiev to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing have increased.

On February 17, Tajik judo player won gold medal in the World Judo Cup that was held Budapest, Hungary, on February 17-18.  “In the –73 kg final, Boqiyev won Russia’s judo player Konstantin Zaretsky,” Shirinjon Mamadsafoyev, Secretary General of Tajikistan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), said. 

According to Mamadsafoyev, 32 judo players from various countries across the world competed for gold in this weight category.  

“Participation in the World Cup is a part of the third phase of preparation of athletes for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing,” the NOC secretary general said.

According to him, three Tajik judo players, Rasoul Boqiyev, Rauf Hukumatov (81 kg) and Nematullo Asronqulov (90 kg), will take part in the judo tournament that will be held Hamburg in late February. 

We will recall that Rasoul Boqiyev also showed good results in the Super World Cup in Paris, finishing seventh among 45 athletes in the men’s –73 kg.  Judo players from 50 countries across the world participated in the Paris Judo Super World Cup.  

Rasoul Boqiyev also won the bronze medal in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.