In connection with the International Day of the Girl Child, an extensive interview was published featuring Alisher Muminov, the director of the Sky Chess school in Tashkent and the father of renowned grandmasters Nafisa Muminova and Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, as well as FIDE master Hulkar Tokhirjonova. Muminov discussed the complexities of preparing children for independent life, supporting daughters in sports, and rejecting outdated societal prejudices regarding gender roles in education.

Recalling the challenging economic landscape of the 1990s, Muminov explained how he shifted from academic pursuits to commerce, channeling all earned resources into the comprehensive education and future of his children. He firmly opposed conservative relatives who argued that investing financial resources in daughters is allegedly impractical since they eventually join other families. Defying such pressure, he ensured his children received extensive tutoring in languages, music, and exact sciences right at home.

The daughters' journey into chess began organically when they demonstrated exceptional aptitude by defeating local players, eventually prompting the family to relocate to Tashkent to foster their professional growth. Today, Muminov's children hold prominent positions within the regional and national sports infrastructure, with Hulkar heading the Central Asian Chess Federation and Nafisa serving as the head coach of the Uzbekistan national team, while their brother successfully pursues a career in IT in the United States.

Reflecting on his parenting philosophy, Muminov asserted that a parent's primary duty is not to dictate life choices or burden children with unfulfilled personal ambitions, but rather to foster critical thinking, profound self-reliance, and mutual trust. He emphasized that true parental support lies in equipping children with the tools for independent decision-making while standing firmly behind them through every obstacle they might encounter.

Source: www.gazeta.uz