Sport
Ashgabat will host taekwondo tournament for the Cup of the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea
15.08.2025From 16 to 17 August, Ashgabat will host the 13th Taekwondo Championship for the Cup of the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Turkmenistan. The competition will be held at the Martial Arts Arena in the Olympic Village, according to the news website Turkmenportal. The first tournament for the Ambassador’s Cup was held in 2010. Since then, these competitions have become an annual tradition and contribute to strengthening sports ties between the two countries. In 2017, the national teams of Turkmenistan and South Korea participated in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held in Turkmenistan. Today, about 500 athletes practise taekwondo in the country.
Turkmenistan will be represented by two clubs in the AFC Champions League-2
15.08.2025The ‘Ahal’ football club scored an important victory over Tajikistan's ‘Regar-TadAZ’ (2:1) in the AFC Champions League qualifying match. This was reported by the online publication Terra News. The match at the TALKO Arena in Tursunzoda was tense: Bagtiyar Gurgenov scored the first goal in the 62nd minute, but the hosts quickly equalised. The decisive goal in the 82nd minute was scored by Suleyman Mirzoyev, securing ‘Ahal’s place in the group stage. Due to this success, Turkmenistan will be represented by two clubs in the AFC Champions League for the first time in history: ‘Ahal’ and FC ‘Arkadag’, which moved from the AFC Challenge League. The draw will take place on 15 August.
The Embassy of Turkmenistan took part in a chess tournament at MGIMO
14.08.2025On 4 August, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) hosted the opening ceremony of the ‘UN Friendship Games – 80’ sports project and a friendly chess tournament. The competition was organised by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation, the UN Association of Russia, the United Nations Information Centre and the UN Public Committee – 80. This was reported by the press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkmenistan. The tournament was timed to coincide with the International Year of Peace and Trust. The ceremony was attended by Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, Rector of MGIMO, Chairman of the Russian Association for the United Nations Anatoliy Torkunov, Director of the UN Information Centre Vladimir Kuznetsov, Turkmenistan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Esen Aydogdyev, and UN Goodwill Ambassador and hockey player Vyacheslav Fetisov. In his speech, E. Aydogdyev emphasised that sports diplomacy is one of the key areas of Turkmenistan's foreign policy. He recalled the 30th anniversary of the country's permanent neutrality, the 80th anniversary of Victory Day and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and announced an international conference to be held in Ashgabat in December. More than 30 participants gathered for the tournament, including diplomats, students and pupils from sports schools. The winner received the Friendship Games Cup, while the other participants received commemorative diplomas. The ‘UN Friendship Games – 80’ series will continue in September with football, tennis and chess competitions.
Referee from Turkmenistan will work at World Wrestling Championships in Bulgaria
13.08.2025Magtymguly Zamanmyradov, representative of Turkmenistan, has been included in the panel of judges for the World Junior Wrestling Championships for athletes under 20, which will take place from 15 to 26 August in Samokov (Bulgaria). This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. M. Zamanmyradov has international referee status and will work throughout the competition. The Turkmen referee has been assigned to officiate both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling matches.
Turkmenistan's national team for the World Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships has been determined
13.08.2025The Turkmenistan Wrestling Federation has approved the composition of the national freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling teams to participate in the World Youth Championships (under 20 years old), which will be held from 15 to 26 August in Samokov (Bulgaria). This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. The freestyle wrestling team consists of five athletes: Azatberdi Ashyrgulyev (61 kg), Vatan Annaorazov (74 kg), Alp Arslan Begenjov (79 kg), Dovletgeldi Myradov (86 kg) and Orazmuhammet Hojalyev (92 kg). The Turkmen wrestlers will compete from 15 to 22 August. The Greco-Roman wrestling team, which includes Nuryagdy Dovranov (55 kg) and Husniddin Ulugbekov (60 kg), will compete from 19 to 26 August. The team is coached by Shageldi Annayev and Magtymguly Zamanmyradov. Reserve members include Kabe Matjanov (57 kg) and Kemal Kakabayev (63 kg). The athletes will be accompanied by coaches Mekan Orazov and Batyr Orazgylyjov, as well as federation representative Maksatmyrat Ilyasov. The delegation will be led by federation president Maksat Bayramov.
Turkmen karate fighters won 16 medals at the Central Asian Championships in Uzbekistan
12.08.2025From 3 to 13 August, Samarkand (Uzbekistan) is hosting the Central Asian Traditional Karate Championship. The Turkmenistan team performed well, winning nine gold, three silver and four bronze medals. This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Young athletes performed particularly successfully in the kata and kumite disciplines. Shamyrat Hojageldiyev (6-7 years old) won two gold medals, Aylar Azadova and Damir Allaberdiyev (10-11 years old), Medine Kazakova (12-13 years old), Adylsha Atayev (14-15 years old), Ibragim Shagulyev (16-17 years old), Nurgeldi Annagurbanov (18-21 years old) and Hemra Begjanov (18-20 years old) won one each. Silver medals went to Aylar Ilhanova (two medals, 10–11 years old) and Selim Myratdurdyev (21–25 years old). Bronze medalists were Myahri Sahatova, Suleyman Rovshenov (both 12–13 years old), Soltansha Ataniyazov and Serdar Bayryev (both aged 16–17). About 500 athletes from five countries in the region took part in the tournament, with the Turkmen team represented by schoolchildren and students from Ashgabat, Ahal and Dashoguz velayats.
Turkmenistan's U-17 national team learns its opponents for the Asian Cup qualifiers
10.08.2025The Turkmenistan national youth football team (players under 17) has learned who its opponents will be in the qualifying round of the 2026 Asian Cup. This was reported by the IIC. According to the results of the draw, the team was placed in Group F, where it will face Thailand, Kuwait, Mongolia and the Maldives. The group stage matches will take place from 22 to 30 November 2025 in the Thai city of Chonburi. A total of 38 teams are participating in the qualifying tournament, divided into seven groups. Only the group winners will advance to the Asian Cup final, which will be held in May 2026 in Saudi Arabia. The 16 strongest youth teams in Asia will compete in the main tournament.
The Turkmenistan women's chess team has entered the FIDE TOP 50 ranking
09.08.2025The women's national team of Turkmenistan has entered the TOP 50 of the world ranking of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for the first time. The ranking is based on the average rating of the country's 10 best female chess players. This was reported by the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. In December 2022, the team was only in 105th place with a rating of 1528, and previously the team had been in the top 70. The new record was made possible due to a change in the coaching staff, stricter selection, systematic training and psychological support. Under the guidance of head coach Shahruh Turayev, young talents have emerged. A particular success was the gold medal in category C at the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September 2024, where the team finished 32nd in the overall standings. The training included training camps in Antalya with international coaches, including Grandmaster Vasily Ivanchuk. The Turkmenistan Chess Federation sees these achievements as a foundation for further development. Plans include participation in international tournaments and preparation for the 2026 Olympiad in Samarkand with the aim of entering the top 40 teams in the world.
Turkmen wrestlers won 16 medals at Asian Kurash Championships
04.08.2025From 30 July to 4 August 2025, the Turkmenistan national kurash team successfully represented the country at the 14th Asian Championships in the South Korean city of Geosan, where approximately 600 athletes from more than 25 countries participated. At the end of the competition, Turkmen athletes won 16 medals: 1 gold (Sabina Kadyrova in the weight category up to 78 kg), 6 silver and 9 bronze. This was reported by the IIC. This success confirmed the high level of training of the national team and strengthened Turkmenistan's position in the world sports arena. The opening ceremony of the tournament took place on 2 August with the participation of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Korea, Begench Durdyev. In his speech, he noted that the development of sports and physical culture is a key area of state policy implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The Ambassador emphasised that belt wrestling embodies the centuries-old traditions, fighting spirit and cultural heritage of the Turkmen people. He also drew attention to the symbolic nature of the championship being held in the year proclaimed by the UN, on the initiative of Turkmenistan, as the International Year of Peace and Trust, as well as in honour of the 30th anniversary of the country's permanent neutrality.
Turkmen karate fighters will compete at the Central Asian Championships in Samarkand
03.08.2025From 3 to 13 August, Samarkand is hosting the Central Asian Traditional Karate Championship, where Turkmenistan is represented by 20 athletes led by coach Diyar Hojayev. The delegation also includes three international referees and two representatives of the national federation. This was reported by IIC. This tournament is an important stage in the preparation of Turkmen karate fighters for upcoming international competitions. Over the course of ten days, the region's strongest athletes will compete in various weight categories and age groups. The championship in Samarkand provides Turkmen athletes with an opportunity not only to compete for medals, but also to learn from their colleagues from other Central Asian countries. Participation in such competitions contributes to the development of traditional karate in Turkmenistan and strengthens sporting ties in the region.
Turkmen cyclists improved their skills in South Korea
03.08.2025From 9 to 24 July, a UCI Level 2 advanced training course for cycling coaches was held in Yeongju, Republic of Korea. The training was organised by the World Cycling Centre (WCC) and the Cycling Federation of the Republic of Korea as part of a youth road cycling event. Representatives from eight countries, including Turkmenistan, took part, according to the news agency ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’. Turkmen coach Emir Jumayev successfully passed the accreditation and received an international certificate. The course included theoretical and practical classes on physiology, tactics, training processes and data analysis. At the same time, a three-stage race was held, in which cyclist Daniil Nurlyev from Turkmenistan took part. He won the 21 km mountain stage among 105 participants, winning a medal, a cup and a certificate for ‘Best Rider’. At the end of all stages, he took fifth place in the overall standings.
Turkmen wrestlers compete at the Asian Kurash Championship in South Korea
03.08.2025The Asian Kurash Championship has kicked off in the South Korean city of Geosan, where Turkmenistan is represented by athletes of various age categories. In the competition, which has brought together more than 300 participants from 20 countries, Turkmen wrestlers are demonstrating their skills in a discipline with deep historical roots. This was reported by the online publication Turkmenportal. The official opening ceremony of the tournament was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Korea, Begench Durdyev, who emphasised the importance of preserving and promoting national sports. In recent years, Turkmen athletes have consistently achieved high results in the international arena. The current championship has become a new opportunity to demonstrate the strength and technique of the traditional Turkmen school of kurash. The competition, broadcast on the official YouTube channel of the International Kurash Association, will last several days. Experts note the growing competition in this sport, which makes every victory of Turkmen wrestlers particularly valuable for the development of the national sports movement.
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