The Federation of Mountaineering and Sport Climbing of Tajikistan has elected Deputy Finance Minister Dilshod Saidzoda as its new chairman.  His candidacy was unanimously approved at an extraordinary meeting held on September 12 in Dushanbe.

Born in 1988, Saidzoda has worked in various state and economic sectors since 2009 and was appointed Deputy Finance Minister in 2024.  Sports official say his election could open new opportunities for promoting mountain sports across Tajikistan.

Mountains cover 93% of Tajikistan’s territory, making the country a unique natural hub for mountaineering and climbing. Peaks such as Ismoil Somoni Peak in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), the Fan Mountains, and dozens of other summits have long attracted both athletes and tourists from around the world.

Tajik mountaineers achieved significant success during the Soviet era, competing in USSR championships and international expeditions.  In recent years, climbers such as Farhod Muminov, who raised Tajikistan’s flag on Elbrus, Kilimanjaro, and Ismoil Somoni Peak, and Vitaliy Khinenzon, who placed the national flag atop Mount Everest in 2021, have brought new recognition to the sport.

President Emomali Rahmon has also emphasized Tajikistan’s potential as a host for international competitions.  In 2023, he stated that mountaineering and climbing best reflect the country’s geographic identity and sporting spirit.

As head of the federation, Saidzoda faces several priorities: improving the technical and material base for athletes, expanding youth engagement in climbing and mountaineering, strengthening international cooperation, and organizing large-scale competitions on Tajik soil.