Sport
The Turkmenistan national team performed well at the Asian and Oceanian Sambo Championships
01.07.2026The Turkmenistan national team performed successfully at the Asian and Oceanian Sambo and Combat Sambo Championships, which took place in Manila (Philippines). This was reported by the news website Asmannews. A total of 343 athletes from 19 countries took part in the tournament. The Turkmenistan team won a total of 16 medals: 4 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze. The winners of the competition were Jasur Dovrankuliyev, Alihan Aydogdyev, Huseyin Begenjov and Sapar Dovletov, who triumphed in the senior category. Silver medals were won by Serdar Sheripov, Annamuhammet Annamuhamedov, Myratgeldi Myradov, Hakberdi Jumayev, Babamyrat Bayramov, Isa Geldiyev and Allanazar Orazmuhammedov. The bronze medallists were Ilshat Dovranov, Aymuhammet Gatyev, Muhammetmyrat Babekov, Merdan Myratgeldiyev and Permangeldi Durdyev.
Turkmen Chess Player Wins Gold at the 5th Rigo Janos Memorial GM-B Tournament
28.06.2026Turkmen grandmaster Meilis Annaberdyev won the international 5th Rigo Janos Memorial GM-B chess tournament, which concluded on June 26 in Balatonlelle, Hungary. The news was reported by the Turkmenportal news website. After nine rounds, Annaberdyev scored 6 points out of a possible 9, finishing first among ten participants from Hungary, Belarus, Greece, India, Poland, and Turkmenistan. He also gained 12.1 FIDE rating points, the highest rating increase among the tournament's medalists. Meilis Annaberdyev has held the title of International Grandmaster since 2022 and is among Turkmenistan's strongest chess players. His achievements include medals at international competitions, including the Chess Olympiad, as well as victories and podium finishes at major international tournaments.
Turkmen Judoka Wins Gold at the Judo Grand Prix in China
28.06.2026Turkmen judoka Maysa Pardaeva won the gold medal at the Judo Grand Prix taking place in Qingdao, China. The news was reported by the Turkmenportal news website. In the final of the women's 57 kg weight category, she defeated France's Martha Fawaz to claim the top spot on the podium. The Qingdao tournament concludes on June 28 and serves as the second event in the qualification cycle for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The 21-year-old athlete has previously achieved success on the international stage, winning a bronze medal at the Grand Slam tournament in Ulaanbaatar. In 2024, Pardaeva also represented Turkmenistan at the Paris Olympic Games.
The national team of Turkmenistan won five medals at the Asian Armwrestling Championship
27.06.2026The national team of Turkmenistan secured five medals at the 24th Asian Armwrestling Championship, which was held in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. More than 600 athletes from 21 countries took part in the competition. According to the results of the tournament, the Turkmen team won four silver and one bronze medal, reports the IIC. Silver medalist in the “Seniors” category up to 65 kg in right-arm wrestling was Vepa Ezizmukhammedov. Another silver medal in the 21–23 age group in the up to 85 kg weight category was won by Azim Nurmukhammedov. Two silver medals in the “Master” category (40–49 years) up to 80 kg were brought to the team by Rovshan Chopanov, who successfully competed in both right- and left-arm divisions. The bronze medal in the “Grand Master” category (50–59 years), over 90 kg, was won by Ahmed Pirovov, the head of the Athletic Sports Federation of Turkmenistan. In addition, Ahmed Pirovov and Rovshan Chopanov, both international category referees, worked at the tournament as officials. Following the championship, they earned the right to officiate at the World Armwrestling Championship, which will take place in October in New Delhi. In the coming months, Turkmen athletes will continue preparing for international competitions. In August, the Cup of the Athletic Sports Federation, including para-armwrestling disciplines, will be held in Ashgabat, while in September the Ashgabat Championship in armwrestling and powerlifting will take place. The team is also preparing to participate in the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan.
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.
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