Sport
In Ashgabat, an event was held on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga
22.06.2026Events dedicated to the International Day of Yoga took place at the “Bagtyýarlyk” sports complex in Ashgabat, organized by the Embassy of India in Turkmenistan together with relevant national agencies and the Ashgabat city administration, according to the IIC. Under the slogan “Yoga for Healthy Longevity,” more than 300 participants took part, including residents of the capital, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations. Turkmenistan has supported the initiative since 2015, when a Yoga and Traditional Medicine Center was opened in Ashgabat. Today, these practices are integrated into the country’s healthcare and education systems. Elements of Ayurveda have been included in the curriculum of the State Medical University named after Myrat Garryyev, while yoga classes are regularly held in medical institutions of the capital. Preventive approaches are studied alongside research on medicinal plants of Turkmenistan. During the event, representatives of India and Turkmenistan delivered speeches, after which participants performed a joint set of exercises in an open-air venue. The Indian side noted the development of cooperation in humanitarian and medical fields. Free yoga classes continue to be held regularly at the “Bagtyýarlyk” sports complex center and at the Embassy of India.
Turkmen judoka wins bronze at Grand Slam tournament in Mongolia
21.06.2026Turkmen judoka Maisa Pardayeva has won a bronze medal in the under-57 kg category at the Grand Slam series tournament taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. During the competition, she defeated Kazakhstan’s Dana Abdirova in the round of 64, South Korea’s Mimi Huh in the round of 32, and Israel’s Timna Nelson-Levy in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal, Pardayeva lost to Japan’s Akari Omori, but in the bronze medal match she overcame France’s Faiza Mokdar to secure third place. For the 21-year-old athlete, this is her first medal at a Grand Slam series event. She previously competed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The tournament in Ulaanbaatar concludes on June 21.
Turkmen Athletes Achieved Strong Results at the Asian Championship in Dushanbe
17.06.2026The Asian Kurash Championship was held in Dushanbe from June 13 to 14, bringing together leading athletes from across the continent. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The Turkmenistan national team delivered a confident performance at the tournament. The squad included representatives of both the men's and women's national teams, whose preparation was overseen by the country's honored coaches, Dortguly Tejenov and Shirin Kubaeva. Following the competition, Turkmen athletes won two silver and four bronze medals, demonstrating a high level of athletic preparation and representing their country with distinction on the international stage.
Turkmen chess players took part in the Aktobe Open 2026 tournament
15.06.2026The national chess team of Turkmenistan took part in the international tournament “Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial – Aktobe Open 2026”, which was held in Aktobe as part of a training camp in Kazakhstan. This was reported by the news agency Orient. The competition brought together 210 chess players from 21 countries, including 23 international grandmasters. The tournament was played in a nine-round Swiss system and was divided into Masters and Open categories. The most successful result among Turkmen athletes was achieved by 16-year-old Myakhri Agamuradova. In the Open section, she scored 6 points out of 9, finished 15th overall, and became the best female participant. As a result, she gained 83.2 rating points and fulfilled the norm for the title of FIDE Woman FIDE Master (WFM). Positive rating progress was also shown by Jahan Rejepova (+26.8), Ogulsuray Bayrambaeva (+8.2), and Leila Shokhradova (+5.2). In the Masters category, Turkmenistan was represented by Amanmuhammet Khommadov. He increased his rating by 10.6 points and moved closer to achieving the International Master norm. The Masters tournament was won by American grandmaster Andrew Hong, while the Open section was won by Kazakh FIDE Master Alan Petukhov. The tournament in Aktobe was one of the preparation stages for the 46th World Chess Olympiad, which will take place in September in Samarkand.
The Taekwondo tournament for the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Cup has concluded in Ashgabat
15.06.2026The final bouts and the closing ceremony of the 14th annual Taekwondo (WT) tournament for the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Cup in Turkmenistan were held at the Martial Arts Sports Complex in the capital’s Olympic City. The competition took place on 13–14 June 2026 and was organized by the National Taekwondo Center in cooperation with the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Korea, according to the IIC. The tournament has been held since 2010. This year, more than 110 athletes participated, including children, cadets, and juniors from the capital and all five regions of the country. The competition was held in the Kyorugi (sparring) discipline. Medals were awarded across 25 weight categories in both individual and team events. The final day concluded with intense bouts, during which the athletes demonstrated their training level and competitiveness in their respective categories. As part of the closing ceremony, the importance of such tournaments in promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people and developing the country’s sports reserve was emphasized. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Turkmenistan, Lee Won-jae, presented medals to the winners and prize-winners. Athletes also received diplomas and commemorative gifts from the organizers. Based on the results of the competition, the best teams in the overall standings were identified and awarded tournament cups.
Turkmenistan highlights the importance of sports diplomacy at the opening ceremony of the UN Games
15.06.2026The Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations, Vepa Hajiyev, spoke at the opening ceremony of the 2026 United Nations Games, held on 12 June in a virtual format. This was reported by the press service of the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the UN. V. Hajiyev noted the growing role of sport in strengthening friendship, trust and mutual understanding between peoples. Representatives of UN member states, the Organization’s Secretariat and specialized agencies took part in the event. The ceremony officially launched the third UN Games — an initiative established by the General Assembly in resolution 78/325 at the proposal of Turkmenistan. The Games are seen as a platform for developing sports diplomacy, strengthening peace and international cooperation. Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of the Pension Administration, Rosemary McClean, also addressed the participants. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of sport in promoting inclusivity, well-being and solidarity within the UN community. As part of the ceremony, a video presentation was shown highlighting the results of the 2025 Games. More than 800 athletes from over 100 countries and organizations participated in those competitions, which featured ten sports disciplines. The 2026 Games program includes competitions in football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, badminton, pickleball, chess, running and yoga. The tournament provides diplomats, international staff and their families with an opportunity to interact through sport and strengthen interpersonal ties. The closing ceremony and award presentation for the winners of the 2026 UN Games are scheduled for 17 July and will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Head of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan attends the World Cup opening ceremony
14.06.2026The head of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, Guvanchmuhammed Ovekov, attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the invitation of FIFA. The tournament kicked off on June 11 at the “Azteca” stadium with a match between the national teams of Mexico and South Africa, according to the news website Turkmenportal. As part of the opening ceremony, a colorful show featuring local and international artists was held. The highlight of the event was FIFA President Gianni Infantino appearing with the World Cup trophy. Before the match, flags of FIFA member countries were raised at the stadium, including the flag of Turkmenistan. The Turkmenistan national team failed to qualify for the final stage of the tournament, ending its campaign in the second round of the Asian qualifiers. The World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will conclude on July 19. For the first time in history, 48 teams are participating in the tournament.
A Taekwondo tournament is taking place in the capital of Turkmenistan
14.06.2026The 22nd traditional Taekwondo tournament began in Ashgabat on June 13. It is organized by the National Taekwondo Center of Turkmenistan and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. The competitions are being held at the Martial Arts Center in the Olympic Complex, according to the IIC. More than 110 athletes from Ashgabat and all five regions (velayats) of the country are taking part in the tournament, which will last until June 14. Medals are contested in individual and team standings across 25 weight categories among children, cadets, and juniors. The program includes kyorugi sparring events. At the opening ceremony, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Turkmenistan, Lee Won-jae, delivered a speech. He emphasized the importance of Taekwondo in fostering discipline and respect, as well as the role of the tournament in strengthening cultural exchange between the two countries. The tournament has been held since 2010 and aims to improve the sporting skills of participants and strengthen Turkmen-Korean relations. Winners in the team standings and individual weight categories will be determined following the final matches on June 14.
Turkmen U20 football team to begin fight for a spot at the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup
10.06.2026The Turkmenistan youth national team (U20) will play against Iraq, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates in the qualification tournament for the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup. The draw results were announced at the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur. This was reported by the publication “Turkmenistan: Golden Age”. The Turkmen team has been placed in Group F. Matches will be held in Thailand in a round-robin format. The qualification stage will take place from August 25 to September 6, 2026. A total of 32 teams will take part, divided into eight groups. Group winners and the seven best second-placed teams will qualify for the final tournament. The AFC U20 Asian Cup will be held in a new format for the first time, introducing a two-tier system with promotion and relegation. Teams finishing last in their groups will move down to the Development Division in the next edition. The final tournament will take place in China from March 24 to April 10, 2027. The Turkmenistan squad is being prepared by a coaching staff led by Didar Hajiyev, with assistants Dayanch Karadzhayev and goalkeeping coach Saparmurat Ovezov.
Turkmen chess players win four medals at Turkic countries tournaments
09.06.2026Turkmen chess players won four individual medals at international tournaments of Turkic countries held in Astana at the Kazakh National University of Sports. This was reported by the publication “Turkmenistan: Golden Age”. The capital of Kazakhstan hosted the first team championship of Turkic countries among men and women, as well as a youth chess Olympiad for players under 16. Teams from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan took part in the competitions. The bronze medal in the men’s tournament on the first board was won by Grandmaster Saparmurat Atabayev. The women’s national team of Turkmenistan added two more medals to its tally: Dzhehan Rejepova became a silver medalist on the third board, while Lala Shohradova earned bronze on the first board. Another bronze medal for Turkmenistan was won by Dilber Khupbyeva, who performed successfully on the fourth board of the youth Olympiad. In the team standings, the women’s national team of Turkmenistan, with six points, finished among the top five teams of the tournament. The winner was Azerbaijan, second place went to Kazakhstan-1, and third to Uzbekistan. In the youth tournament (under 16), the prize places were taken by the Azerbaijan team and two teams from Kazakhstan.
Ashgabat hosts the second stage of the AFC course for football managers
04.06.2026The second stage of a professional development program for football managers has begun in the conference hall of the “Yyldyz” hotel in Ashgabat. The training is organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in cooperation with the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, according to the IIC. The course is focused on studying modern approaches to football management, introducing international experience, and improving efficiency in sports administration. The sessions are held in a blended format and include both theoretical lectures and practical training sessions led by AFC international instructors. The program involves 29 specialists from Turkmenistan. The project aims to develop the country’s football management system and raise the professional level of sports personnel.
Young tennis player from Turkmenistan wins two gold medals in Aktobe
03.06.2026Young tennis player from Turkmenistan, Alikhan Nuryagdyyev, won two gold medals at the international tournament “Aktobe Masters 10&Under GA Road to TOP 8,” held from May 25 to May 30 in Aktobe, Kazakhstan. This was reported by the publication “Turkmenistan: Golden Age”. The competition featured 96 boys and girls under the age of 10, representing various countries and regions. Despite his age and strong competition, the 8-year-old athlete demonstrated consistent performance in both singles and doubles events. In the singles category, Nuryagdyyev, seeded 60th, reached the final and defeated Kazakhstan’s G. Istomin with a score of 4:1, 4:2. In doubles, he partnered with Navid Sabirov from Atyrau and also secured a gold medal. This was the athlete’s first tournament of this level. He showed confident technique and composure on court, which was noted by coaches and organizers. Alikhan Nuryagdyyev represents Ashgabat. He trains under Yuri Rogussky and Meilis Orazmukhammedov. He also studies at the A.S. Pushkin Joint Turkmen-Russian Secondary School and holds a commendation sheet for excellent academic performance. Previously, he had already competed in children’s tournaments in Turkmenistan and became a prize winner among athletes under 8 years old. The victory in Aktobe became a notable achievement for the young athlete and for Turkmen tennis as a whole.
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