The 46th Chess Olympiad will kick off on September 15 in Samarkand. As the host nation, Uzbekistan will field multiple teams — three men's and three women's squads. This event is significant not only for sports but also for enhancing the country's international image.
The first women's team is captained by one of the country's most renowned chess players, Nafisa Muminova, who has represented Uzbekistan in international competitions for many years. Currently, she serves as captain rather than a player. Just days before the Olympiad, Gazeta observer Georgiy Shvanov spoke with Nafisa Muminova about the team's preparation, squad selection, young female players, the development of women's chess, and the main principles of team competitions.
The training camp is being held at the Miraki recreation area in the Kashkadarya region. The first women's team — Afruza Hamdamova, Gulruhbegim Tohirjonova, Nilufarkhon Imomqoziyeva, Umida Omonova, and Guldona Karimova — along with the coaching staff, is training there. This camp is the final stage of preparation before the Olympiad. The second team's camp is taking place at the Holiday Inn hotel in Tashkent and will continue until September 13. The third team is participating in a match-tournament ahead of the Olympiad.
Muminova emphasized the need for separate preparation: "Each team has its own program. When there are too many people, there are also distracting factors. Therefore, we decided that each national team should prepare separately: the first, second, and third teams have their own goals and objectives. Each group of five acts as a single whole, and during the camps, it is important for the girls to focus on each other." As for the third team, due to less playing practice, it was decided to organize a match-tournament for them.
As captain, Muminova feels great responsibility: "I try to work as much as possible with the girls, to help them both in chess and in other matters. We have a close-knit, friendly team, and I think everything will be fine." She monitors the training process, distributes work among the coaches, and coordinates the players' participation in tournaments. During the Olympiad, the captain will be responsible for the lineup in each round, substitutions, and other strategic decisions. "We consult with the coaches, everyone expresses their opinion, but the final decision is mine. As a sports psychology specialist, I also help the girls cope with psychological pressure," she says.
Regarding squad selection, Muminova noted that current and six-month average ratings were taken into account. Initially, the lineup was determined as of May 1, when Madinabonu Khalilova was in the first team. However, later Nilufarkhon Imomqoziyeva performed excellently at the Women's Asian Championship: she took ninth place, adding many points to her rating and surpassing the 2300 mark. She became the third-highest-rated female chess player in Uzbekistan. "She is only 15 years old, but we concluded that we must include her in the team because she has been showing very confident play recently. In August, she was officially included in the squad," said the captain.
Both young talents — Nilufarkhon Imomqoziyeva and Guldona Karimova — will make their debut at the Olympiad. Muminova trusts their experience: "Guldona participated in the Women's World Team Championship. Nilufarkhon last year at the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship in London showed an excellent result — she scored 8 out of 12 points on the sixth board. Moreover, Nilufarkhon is a world champion among schoolgirls under 15. She has experience, and I think the Olympiad won't scare her."
Muminova noted that the change in leadership of the Chess Federation, particularly the return of Abdulla Aripov, gave a powerful impetus to the development of women's chess: "The leadership of the Chess Federation changed, Abdulla Nigmatovich Aripov returned — after that, much changed. With his return, the state began to pay much more attention to women's chess, and the results almost immediately made themselves felt. When I started working with the team, Uzbekistan was ranked 43rd in the FIDE rating. Now we are 21st, and in January 2026 we rose to 15th." According to her, the girls receive stipends, their participation in tournaments, coaching services, and physical training specialists are paid for. Organizational matters are also handled by a special support group.
The first women's team of Uzbekistan includes Afruza Hamdamova (FIDE rating — 2443), Gulruhbegim Tohirjonova (2357), Umida Omonova (2297), Nilufarkhon Imomqoziyeva (2281), and Guldona Karimova (2242). The second team comprises Nilufar Yoqubboyeva (2246), Marjona Malikova (2149), Asal Salimova (2088), Madinabonu Khalilova (2087), and Mumtozbegim Mansurova (1928). The third team features Zilola Aktamova (2078), Maftuna Bobomurodova (2030), Barchinoy Shokirjonova (1996), Shohina Ahmedova (1978), and Ozoda Shahzodova (1964). Ahead of the Olympiad, the teams are preparing in different locations: the first in Kashkadarya, the second in Tashkent, and the third in a match-tournament.
Source: www.gazeta.uz