DUSHANBE, January 18, Asia-Plus  -- To date, only three Tajik athletes, including Dilshod Nazarov (hammer throwing), Rasoul Boqiyev (judo) and Yusuf Abdusalomov (free-style wrestling), have qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

However, speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Maliksho Nematov, head of the Committee for Sports, Youth Affairs and Tourism, expressed hope that at least ten other Tajik athletes would qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games as well.  “We count, first of all, on our boxers,” Nematov said.      

According to him, 200,000 somonis have been provided from presidential reserve fund for participation of Tajik athletes in this year’s Olympic Games.  He also noted that local entrepreneurs are not so active in sponsoring.  He added that Tajik cellular operator Tacom, working under the Beeline brand, had become official sponsor of the Tajik national Olympic team.

Nematov also noted that most Tajik sports federations did not pay proper attention to tackling problems facing development of sports in the country.