DUSHANBE, January 31, 2009, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan''s first-ever Olympic medalist is working as a taxi driver in Moscow to make ends meet, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on January 30.

Rasul Boqiev -- who won a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics -- says he continues to train and hopes to win more medals for Tajikistan.

His father and first trainer, Khudoinazar Boqiev, told RFE/RL''s Tajik Service that his son received Tajikistan''s Medal of Honor and $2,300 from the Tajik government after the Olympics, but soon had to move to Russia to find work.