DUSHANBE, July 4, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The first group of Tajik athletes who have qualified for the 2012 London Olympics departed for London Wednesday morning.

Shirinjon Mamadsafoyev, vice-president of Tajikistan’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), says the first group members include boxers – Anvar Yunusov, Sobirjon Nazarov, Mavzouna Choriyeva and Jahon Qurbonov.

A total of 15 Tajik sportsmen will go to the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games.  Among them are Dilshod Nazarov (light athletics, hammer throwing), Alisher Gulov and Farhod Nematov (taekwondo WTF), Anvar Yunusov, Sobirjon Nazarov, Jahon Qurbonov and Mavzouna Choriyeva (boxing), Rasoul Boqiyev and Parviz Sobirov (Judo), Iskandari Rustam, Yusuf Abdusalomov, Zelimkhan Yusupov and Nikolay Noev (freestyle wrestling), Ekaterina Izmailova (swimming, freestyle, 50m) and Vladislav Ovcharenko (light athletics, 200m sprint).

It is to be noted that licenses were given to Ekaterina Izmailova and Vladislav Ovcharenko through the Wild-Card system.  Licenses were allocated in accordance with the decision made by the International Olympic Committee, related international federations and National Olympic Committee of Tajikistan.

Meanwhile the authorities have promised handsome cash rewards for Olympic medals.

In January, President Rahmon announced that the government will pay the country’s Olympians 300,000 somoni for gold, 250,000 somoni for silver, and 200,000 somoni for bronze medals.

The Dushanbe mayor’s office has offered two-room apartment for each gold medal, 45,000 somoni for silver, and 35,000 somoni for Olympic bronze.

In addition, Tajikistan’s largest commercial bank, Orienbonk, has promised that each Tajik medalist in London will receive the Lexus car.

The Islamic revival Party (IRP) of Tajikistan has also promised to reward Tajik Olympic medalists.  IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri announced on May 21 that his party will reward Tajik athletes who bring home medals from the forthcoming Summer Olympic Games.  Each medalist will receive two-room apartment in Dushanbe, IRP leader said.