3rd Commonwealth of Independent States Games conclude in Azerbaijan

By Alperen Aktas

BAKU (AA) – The 3rd Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games concluded in Azerbaijan after 10 days of intense competition held from Sept. 28 to Oct. 8 across seven cities, featuring athletes from 13 countries and more than 500 medal events in 21 sports.

The large-scale multi-sport event brought together hundreds of athletes from CIS member and observer states, with competitions in athletics, swimming, judo, taekwondo, boxing, sambo, fencing, gymnastics, table tennis, and other disciplines.

Russia finished atop the overall medal standings with 231 medals, including 130 gold, after strong performances in swimming, wrestling, athletics, and gymnastics.

Azerbaijan ranked second with 184 medals, 33 of them gold, earned mainly in wrestling, boxing, judo, and taekwondo, while Belarus came in third with 122 medals, including 32 gold.

Uzbekistan followed with 119 medals, particularly in martial arts and gymnastics. Kazakhstan secured 82 medals, including 10 gold, excelling in wrestling, boxing, and track and field.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan also reached the podium, with Tajik boxer Behruz Umarov claiming his country’s only gold medal. In total, athletes from 10 of the 13 participating countries won medals.

The CIS Games, inaugurated in 2021, aim to promote sports cooperation, cultural exchange, and friendship among the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which includes former Soviet republics across Eurasia.