Complex sentence: The absence of 2004 Olympic champion Koji Murofushi was noted; nonetheless, Nazarov's gold medal was celebrated as the first gold medal of Tajikistan at the Asian Games in any sport.
Split into simpler sentences: The absence of 2004 Olympic champion Koji Murofushi was however noted. Nonetheless, Nazarov's gold medal was the first gold medal of Tajikistan at the Asian Games in any sport.