| Samarkand Challenger | |
|---|---|
 2019 Samarkand Challenger | |
| ATP Challenger Tour | |
| Location | Samarkand, Uzbekistan |
| Venue | Tennis Club Dinamo |
| Category | ATP Challenger Tour |
| Surface | Clay |
| Draw | 32S/32Q/16D |
| Prize money | $50,000+H |
| Website | Website |
The Samarkand Challenger is a tennis tournament held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan since 1996. The event is part of the ATP Challenger Tour and is played on outdoor clay courts.
Samarkand, also known as Samarqand, is a city in southeastern Uzbekistan and among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. There is evidence of human activity in the area of the city from the late Paleolithic Era, though there is no direct evidence of when Samarkand was founded; several theories propose that it was founded between the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. Prospering from its location on the Silk Road between China and Europe, at times Samarkand was one of the largest cities of Central Asia. Most of the inhabitants of this city are Persian-speaking and speak the Tajik Persian dialect. This city is one of the historical centers of the Tajik people in Central Asia, which in the past was one of the important cities of the great empires of Iran.
Samarqand Region is the most populous region of Uzbekistan. It is located in the center of the country in the basin of Zarafshan River. It borders with Tajikistan, Navoiy Region, Jizzakh Region and Qashqadaryo Region. It covers an area of 16,773 km². The population is estimated to be around 4,031,324, with some 63% living in rural areas (2022).
Scouting in Uzbekistan was founded in 1995, and is working toward World Organization of the Scout Movement recognition. In 1998, Scouting was limited to two Scout troops with a total of 15 members. Since the increasing presence of the United States military in the region after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Scouting is beginning to develop more thoroughly, and the fledgling organization, Kidirib Topubchi O'zbekiston, the Uzbekistan Union of Scout-Explorers, has issued insignia, considered to be a large step for nascent Scout organizations.
Fredrik Jonsson is a retired tennis player from Sweden, who turned professional in 1996. The right-hander reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 108 in July 2000. Jonsson comes from the same hometown as teenage colleague-star Andreas Vinciguerra.
The 2010 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor red clay courts. It was the fourteenth edition of the tournament which was part of the 2010 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 9 and 14 August 2010.
The 2011 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 15th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2011 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 8 and 14 August 2011.
The Tashkent to Samarkand high-speed rail line is a 344-kilometre (214 mi) high-speed rail connection between Tashkent and Samarkand, the two largest Uzbekistan cities. The route passes through four regions: Tashkent, Sirdaryo, Jizzakh and Samarqand in Uzbekistan. Trains operate seven days a week under the brand Afrosiyob. A 141 km long extension to Qarshi started operation on 22 August 2015, though at lower speed of 160 km/h. An extension to Bukhara on the Talgo 250 ran for the first time on 25 August 2016 — marking the completion of a project to modernise the 256 km route from Samarkand. Travel from Tashkent to Bukhara, a distance of 600 km, will now take 3 hours and 20 minutes instead of 7 hours.
The 2012 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 16th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2012 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 6 and 12 August 2012.
After the Uzbeks were driven out of Samarkand in early 1501 CE, they regrouped in Bukhara. Muhammad Shaybani began to prepare for another attempt to take Samarkand in April - May 1501 CE. Babur, the Timurid leader, decided to meet this threat before it arrived at the city. The two armies met at Sar-e-Pul, where a decisive battle was fought which decided the fate of the Timurids and of the region, resulting in gradual conquest of Transoxiana, Khwarezm and Khorasan by the Uzbeks.
The 2013 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 17th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2013 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 13 and 19 May 2013.
The 2014 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 18th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2014 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 12 and 17 May 2014.
The 2015 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 19th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2015 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 11 and 16 May 2015.
Ivan Cerović is a former professional tennis player from Croatia.
The 2016 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 20th edition of the tournament which was part of the 2016 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 9 and 14 May 2016.
The Tajikistan national handball team is the national handball team of Tajikistan and is controlled by the Tajikistan Handball Association.
The 2017 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 21st edition of the tournament which was part of the 2017 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 15 and 20 May 2017.
The 2018 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 22nd edition of the tournament which was part of the 2018 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 14 and 19 May 2018.
The 2019 Samarkand Challenger was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the 23rd edition of the tournament which was part of the 2019 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 13 and 19 May 2019.
João Magalhães Hueb de Menezes is a Brazilian professional tennis player.
Kafir-kala is an ancient fortress 12 kilometers south of the city center of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, protecting the southern border of the Samarkand oasis. It consists in a central citadel built in mud-bricks and measuring 75 × 75 meters at its base has six towers and is surrounded by a moat, still visible today. Living quarters were located outside the citadel.
