DUSHANBE, July 18, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The CIS mountaineering championship is taking place in Sughd’s Ayni district.

Mountain climbers from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine are participating in the competition that started on July 16 and runs through July 31.

Lochin Fayzulloyev, deputy head of the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs under the Government of Tajikistan, says mountaineers will have to pass many mountain routes and ascend the Zamin-Qaror Peak located near the village of Margheb.

“Unfortunately, our mountaineers do not participate in the championship,” said Fayzulloyev, “Although the Federation of Mountaineering of Tajikistan has existed for more already 20 years, it has failed to field a proper team for the competition, because to participate in the competition, the team must qualify for it.”

According to him, holding of mountaineering competition of such level will play an important role in popularization of mountaineering in Tajikistan.  Fayzulloyev expressed hope that Tajikistan will be represented in the next CIS mountaineering championship.