DUSHANBE, April 23, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Organized by the representative office of Volkswagen (VW) in Tajikistan, an amateur tennis tournament. Volkswagen Cup 2010, was launched at the Tennis Palace in Dushanbe today.

Aziz Avghonov, the director general of the Volkswagen representative office in Tajikistan, say the tournament was organized to raise Tajikistan’s prestige on international arena, promote development of sports movement in the country and acquaint people with the VW brand.

According to him, more than 40 people are participating in the tournament that runs through April 25.  “Senior representatives from Tajikistan’s ministries and departments, large companies as wall as chiefs of diplomatic missions and international organizations active in the country are participating in the tournament,” said Avghonov, “Among them are Ramil Nadyrov, Deputy Defense Minister, Jamolliddin Ubaidulloyev, 1st Secretary of the MFA Europe and America Directorate, Amar Sinha, Ambassador of India to Tajikistan, Munir Merali, Resident Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Tajikistan, Aleksandr Yakovlev, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in Tajikistan, Sadullo Bakhayev, Deputy Director General of Gazpromneft-Tajikistan, Abdurasoul Muhidov, Trade Representative of Tajikistan in Uzbekistan, and others.”

The main goal of the tournament is in propagating healthy lifestyle and strengthening ties because representatives of many diplomatic missions and international organizations are participating in the competition, he added.  “One of participants of the tournament is Amirjon Ubaidulloyev, the head of department within the directorate for management of joint projects, Ministry of Finance.  He has played tennis for already several years.”

Kazakh Ambassador Abutalip Akhmetov noted that that such tournaments drew closer diplomats and local community and it was really good example of healthy lifestyle.  “W are grateful to the tournament organizers but it is a pity that there is only one such a place in Dushanbe where children could practice tennis,” Mr. Akhmetov said.

The tournament will receive the cup and be given discount on the purchase of Volkswagen car.

Volkswagen opened its representative office in Tajikistan in 2008 and more than 50 Volkswagen cars have been sold in the country to this day.