Sport
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.
Turkmenistan Consulate Holds Bicycle Ride in Astrakhan
03.06.2026On May 31, the Consulate of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation (Astrakhan) organized a bicycle ride dedicated to World Bicycle Day. This was reported by the IIC. The holiday, established by the United Nations at the initiative of Turkmenistan in 2018, symbolizes commitment to a healthy lifestyle, environmental values, and international solidarity. The event started on the Volga River embankment. It brought together consulate staff and Turkmen students studying at universities in Astrakhan. The initiative, combining both sporting and cultural elements, was held within the framework of Turkmenistan’s 2026 national motto and aimed at strengthening friendly and good-neighborly relations. The bicycle ride concluded in a festive atmosphere, leaving participants with positive impressions.
Turkmenistan will be represented at an international chess tournament in Kazakhstan
02.06.2026The national chess team of Turkmenistan will take part in the international tournament “Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial – Aktobe Open 2026,” which will be held from June 3 to 11 in Aktobe (Kazakhstan). This was reported by the news website Turkmenportal. Players from 21 countries will compete in the “Masters” and “Open” sections, including 23 grandmasters. The total prize fund amounts to 100,000 US dollars. The tournament is part of the team’s preparation for the 46th World Chess Olympiad, scheduled for September in Samarkand. Previously, the national team held training camps in Kokshetau (May 18 – June 2) at the invitation of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. Under the guidance of grandmaster Alexander Rakhmanov, training sessions lasted 6–7 hours daily and focused on strategy, team play, and psychological preparation. After returning to Ashgabat, cooperation will continue in the form of online training sessions with the same specialist.
Turkmen Wrestler Wins Bronze at Asian U17 Wrestling Championships
02.06.2026Turkmen freestyle wrestler Shaapbas Esgerov won a bronze medal at the Asian U17 Wrestling Championships held in Da Nang, Vietnam. Competing in the 80 kg weight category, Esgerov secured a place on the podium, according to Turkmenportal. In the bronze-medal match, Esgerov confidently defeated Japan’s Yusei Nagata by a score of 9–3. The gold medal in this weight class was won by Iran’s Amirali Mohammad Ferasati, who dominated India’s Mandeep in the final with a 10–0 victory. The second bronze medal went to Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Erbolatov, who defeated Tajikistan’s Nasim Khodjaev 12–1. A total of 10 athletes represented Turkmenistan at the championships: six competed in freestyle wrestling and four in Greco-Roman wrestling.
Turkmenistan U-20 national team learned its opponents for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers
31.05.2026The Turkmenistan U-20 national football team has learned its opponents for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification tournament. According to the draw held at the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, the team has been placed in the same group with Iraq, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. This was reported by Turkmenportal. The final stage of the tournament will take place in China. The qualification matches are scheduled from 25 August to 6 September 2026. Group F matches will be hosted by Thailand. The winners of eight groups, as well as the seven best second-placed teams, will advance to the final stage. The Turkmenistan team, led by head coach Didar Khadzhiev, will play three matches: against Iraq on 31 August, against Thailand on 3 September, and against the UAE on 6 September. It should be noted that in May this year, the U-20 team finished fourth at the Central Asian Championship in Tajikistan. Uzbekistan won the tournament, Kyrgyzstan took silver, and Tajikistan earned bronze.
FC Arkadag Will Meet India’s Goa in AFC Champions League Two Qualifiers
31.05.2026FC Arkadag will play against India’s Goa in the preliminary round of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Two. The match will take place on August 12 in Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, according to the news website Turkmenportal. At this stage, the qualification consists of a single match: the winner will advance to the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two, while the loser will continue the season in the AFC Challenge League. Goa secured its place in the tournament after winning the 2025/26 AIFF Super Cup. The AFC Champions League Two is the second-tier club competition in Asia organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Turkmen Boxer Won WBC Eurasia Title with First-Round Knockout
31.05.2026Turkmen boxer Khursand Imankuliyev captured the WBC Eurasia title after securing a victory on May 29 at Humo Arena in Tashkent during the WBC Eurasia Boxing Night event. The news was reported by Turkmenportal. Imankuliyev finished the fight in the first round with a knockout against Adam Dachi of Tanzania, who entered the bout with a record of 8–1–1. The contest was held in the welterweight division. For Imankuliyev, a 10-time champion of Turkmenistan and an International Master of Sport, this was the first title fight of his professional career. He previously competed at World Championships and the Asian Games, and has won medals at various international tournaments. The WBC Eurasia belt is a regional title sanctioned by the World Boxing Council (WBC), one of the world's largest boxing organizations, founded in 1963.
Turkmen wrestler wins gold at Asian Under-23 Championships
28.05.2026Alp Arslan Begendzhov became the Asian champion in freestyle wrestling among athletes under 23. The tournament was held in Da Nang, Vietnam. The Turkmen wrestler competed in the weight category up to 86 kg, according to “Turkmenistan: Golden Age”. On his way to gold, the 19-year-old athlete had three matches and did not concede a single point to his opponents. In the quarterfinals, he defeated India’s Sachin Mor 6–0. In the semifinals, he won by technical superiority against Boburbek Ruzimboyev of Uzbekistan 11–0. In the final, he also secured an early victory over Abilaykhan Uzembayev of Kazakhstan 10–0. This is Begendzhov’s first gold medal at the Asian U23 Championships. Last year, he took silver in the 79 kg category at the same tournament. The athlete has been steadily improving on the international stage. In 2024, he won gold at both the Asian and World Championships among U20 athletes. In 2025, he added a silver medal at the U23 level and a bronze at the U20 Asian Championships. In April 2026, he also earned bronze at the senior Asian Championships in Bishkek. Starting this season, Begendzhov moved up to the 86 kg weight class and has already achieved success at continental level. The athlete received his foundational training in Ashgabat, working with various national team coaches. He is currently training under the guidance of Batyr Orazgylydzhov.
Guwanchmuhammet Ovekov elected CAFA Vice President
28.05.2026On May 26, the 11th Congress of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) was held in an online format. During the meeting, the results of tournaments conducted under the organization’s auspices in 2025 were reviewed. The outcomes of an audit were also considered, and elections for the Vice President were held, according to IIC. The only candidate from Central Asia was the Chairman of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, Guwanchmuhammet Ovekov. He was elected to the position by a unanimous decision of the participants. Representatives of CAFA leadership and national football governing bodies of regional countries took part in the Congress. Among them were CAFA General Secretary Ulugbek Karimov, as well as leaders and general secretaries of football federations from Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Central Asian Football Association was founded on June 10, 2014. It began full operations on January 9, 2015. The association includes six countries: Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Uzbekistan. The headquarters is located in Tajikistan. The President of the association has been Rustam Emomali since 2019. His term runs until 2027. The Secretary General is Ulugbek Karimov.
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